Rep. Troy E. Nehls’ Bill to Increase Pension for Medal of Honor Recipients Signed into Law by President Trump
WASHINGTON, D.C. —Today, President Donald J. Trump signed Congressman Troy E. Nehls' (R-TX-22) bill, the Medal of Honor Act, into law.
“Medal of Honor recipients truly embody the best of our nation,” said Congressman Nehls. “They never ask for special recognition or demand special treatment. Many of the living Medal of Honor recipients spend most of their time traveling our country, telling their stories inspiring the next generation of America’s heroes. My bill, the Medal of Honor Act, eases their financial burden by increasing their special pension—ensuring they know that America is grateful for all they’ve done to serve our country and defend our freedoms.
“I am beyond grateful to President Trump, our Commander in Chief, for signing my bill into law,” Congressman Nehls continued. “The least we can do is lift the financial burden off of these selfless warriors who continue to serve our great nation."
Currently, Medal of Honor recipients receive a special pension of $16,880.76 annually. Congressman Nehls’ bill, the Medal of Honor Act, increases this pension to around $67,500 annually, a nearly fourfold increase.
The bipartisan bill unanimously passed the U.S. House of Representatives in February 2025 and recently passed the U.S. Senate by unanimous consent.
Background
The Medal of Honor is the United States’ highest military award. Army Private Jacob Parrott was given the first Medal of Honor in 1863. Since then, there have been over 3,515 Medal of Honor Recipients, with 63 currently living.
On April 27, 1916, Congress passed legislation that created the Army and Navy Medal of Honor Roll and entitled Medal of Honor recipients to a special pension of $10 per month for life. In 1961, Congress increased the monthly pension from $10 to $100. The most recent congressional pension raise was in 2002 when it was raised to $1,000 per month.
Without any cost-of-living adjustments, the current base rate for the Medal of Honor pension is $ 1,406.73 per month. Eligibility for this pension is based solely on receipt of the Medal of Honor and is paid to any eligible individuals who elect to receive it. Receipt of this special pension does not reduce any other benefits under U.S. law. The program is smaller than the Veterans Pension and Survivors Pension programs, as there are fewer than 70 living Medal of Honor recipients.
Congressman Nehls introduced the Medal of Honor Act in the 117th, 118th, and 119th Congresses.