The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill to increase federal pensions for war heroes with overwhelming bipartisan support.
The Medal of Honor Act passed the chamber by a margin of 424-0. Congressman Troy Nehls (R-TX) introduced the proposed law, which increases the annual pension for Medal of Honor recipients from around $17,000 to $67,500.
“Medal of Honor recipients embody bravery, selflessness, and valor,” Nehls told The Dallas Express. “Medal of Honor recipients continue to serve our great country by sharing their stories and inspiring young Americans to become the next generation of heroes.
“My legislation, the Medal of Honor Act, will ease the financial burdens of our nation’s Medal of Honor recipients. The passage of my bill reaffirms our strong commitment to these heroic individuals and that Congress has not forgotten them. We thank them for their unwavering dedication and service to our nation.”
This comes as Texas will soon be home to the National Medal of Honor Museum. On March 22, 2025, the museum will open to the public in Arlington, near AT&T Stadium, Globe Life Field, and Choctaw Stadium.
“The stories of the country’s Medal of Honor recipients define the values that embody the spirit of the Medal itself: courage, sacrifice, commitment, integrity, citizenship, and patriotism. Within the National Medal of Honor Museum, they will live to commemorate historic actions and inspire future generations,” the museum website says.
“By law, only U.S. service members who distinguish themselves ‘through conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty’ can receive the medal,” the Department of Defense website says.
The first Medal of Honor was awarded in 1863 to Army Private Jacob Parrott. More than 3,515 recipients have received it since then, with 61 awardees currently living. The pension is one of several honors afforded to recipients and their widows usually qualify to draw the special pension upon the awardee’s death.
Companion legislation is also under consideration in the United States Senate. U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) authored the Senate bill, which would raise the compensation amount to $100,000 annually.
“Our Medal of Honor recipients are heroes who embody the highest ideals of courage, sacrifice, and selflessness. They continue to serve our nation by sharing their stories, inspiring generations, and encouraging the next wave of America’s heroes. Yet, they often lack the resources for these activities. The MEDAL Act addresses those shortfalls. Congress should act swiftly to advance and pass this badly needed fix,” Cruz stated at the time of the introduction of the bill.
The Senate version of the law is currently pending before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs.