[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 695 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]

        H.R.695

                     One Hundred Nineteenth Congress

                                 of the

                        United States of America


                          AT THE FIRST SESSION

           Begun and held at the City of Washington on Friday,
         the third day of January, two thousand and twenty-five


                                 An Act


 
   To amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the rate of the 
  special pension payable to Medal of Honor recipients, and for other 
                                purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
    This Act may be cited as the ``Medal of Honor Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
    Congress finds the following:
        (1) The Medal of Honor is the highest and most prestigious 
    military decoration of the United States.
        (2) To earn the Medal of Honor ``the deed of the person . . . 
    must be so outstanding that it clearly distinguishes his gallantry 
    beyond the call of duty from lesser forms of bravery''.
        (3) The actions of Medal of Honor recipients inspire bravery, 
    and the willingness to give all, in those who serve in the Armed 
    Forces and those who will serve in the future.
        (4) Those listed on the Medal of Honor Roll exemplify the best 
    traits of members of the Armed Forces, a long and proud lineage of 
    those who went beyond the call of duty.
        (5) Pursuant to section 1562 of title 38, United States Code, 
    the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall pay monthly to each living 
    person whose name has been entered on the Army, Navy, Air Force, 
    and Coast Guard Medal of Honor Roll a special pension.
        (6) Recipients of the Medal of Honor have earned a substantial 
    and historic increase to such special pension in recognition of 
    their conspicuous gallantry, unwavering commitment, and heroic 
    actions above and beyond the call of duty.
SEC. 3. INCREASE IN DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS SPECIAL PENSION 
PAYABLE TO MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENTS.
    Section 1562 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
        (1) in subsection (a)(1)--
            (A) by inserting ``(A)'' before ``The Secretary'';
            (B) by striking ``the rate of $1,406.73'' and inserting 
        ``the rate described in subparagraph (B)''; and
            (C) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
    ``(B) The rate described in this subparagraph is equal to the 
amount of monthly compensation paid to a veteran without dependents 
under subsection (m) of section 1114 of this title, increased to the 
next intermediate rate under subsection (p) of such section.''; and
        (2) in subsection (e)--
            (A) by inserting ``(1)'' before ``Effective'';
            (B) by inserting ``, subject to paragraph (2),'' before 
        ``shall''; and
            (C) by adding at the end the following new paragraph (2):
    ``(2) The Secretary shall not, under paragraph (1), increase the 
amount of monthly special pension payable under subsection (a) in a 
year if such amount was otherwise increased during such year.''.
SEC. 4. EXTENSION OF CERTAIN LIMITS ON PAYMENTS OF PENSION.
    Section 5503(d)(7) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``November 30, 2031'' and inserting ``January 31, 2033''.

                               Speaker of the House of Representatives.

                            Vice President of the United States and    
                                               President of the Senate.