Reps. Troy E. Nehls, Chris Pappas, and Senator Ted Cruz Reintroduce Legislation to Increase Pension for Medal of Honor Recipients

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Troy E. Nehls (R-TX-22) and Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH-01) reintroduced the bipartisan, bicameral Medal of Honor Act. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) introduced companion legislation in the United States Senate. This bill would increase the special pension that Medal of Honor recipients receive to $100,000 annually. Currently, Medal of Honor recipients only receive $1,406.73 per month, which equates to $16,880.76 annually.

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 3,515 Medal of Honor recipients, with 61 currently living.

"Medal of Honor recipients are brave heroes whose selflessness and valor should inspire every American," said Congressman Nehls. "The men and women who've earned this honor went above and beyond the call of duty. I'm proud to reintroduce the Medal of Honor Act to ease the financial burdens of our nation's Medal of Honor recipients. While we will never be able to repay these courageous individuals for their extraordinary acts, our nation must do everything we can to show our unwavering support and gratitude for their service."

"The Medal of Honor is our nation's highest military decoration for the men and women of our military distinguished for their bravery in service to our country," said Congressman Pappas. "We must honor our service members that have earned this award by ensuring they are financially secure after their military service is over. I joined Congressman Nehls on this bipartisan legislation to increase the monthly pension for Medal of Honor recipients because we must keep our promise to our service members and veterans."

"Our Medal of Honor recipients are heroes who embody the highest ideals of courage, sacrifice, and selflessness," said Senator Cruz. "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."

Representatives Lauren Boebert (R-CO-04) and Monica De La Cruz (R-TX-15) are original cosponsors of the Medal of Honor Act.

Read the Fox News exclusive HERE.

Background

On April 27, 2016, 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.