Troy E. Nehls
11/07/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/07/2025 17:54
Rep. Troy E. Nehls Applauds Senate Passage of His Bill to Increase Pension for Medal of Honor Recipients
WASHINGTON, D.C. -Congressman Troy E. Nehls (R-TX-22) released the following statement after his bill, H.R. 695, the Medal of Honor Act, passed the United States Senate:
"Today, the United States Senate did good by our nation's highest decorated Veterans by passing my bill, the Medal of Honor Act, by unanimous consent," said Congressman Nehls. "Medal of Honor recipients don't ask for recognition or demand special treatment. They are selfless heroes who embody the best of our country. The least Congress can do is ease the financial burdens of these heroes by raising their well-deserved annual pension. Thank you to my Texas Republican colleague, Senator Ted Cruz, for championing this initiative in the Senate. I look forward to seeing this bill signed into law by President Trump."
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 61 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.
Currently, Medal of Honor recipients receive a special pension of $16,880.76 annually, or just $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 individual who elects 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's Medal of Honor Act increases this pension to around $67,500 annually, a nearly fourfold increase, and is fully offset.
Congressman Nehls introduced the Medal of Honor Act in the 117th, 118th, and 119th Congresses.
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