WHAT THE LAW DOINCongress, in plain words

H.R. 695 · 119th Congress · Public Law 119-43

Medal of Honor Act

Became lawArmed Forces and National Security
IntroducedJan 23, 2025
Passed HouseFeb 26, 2025
Passed SenateNov 7, 2025
To PresidentNov 25, 2025
Became lawDec 1, 2025

How this bill changes the law

Sourced

H.R. 695 changed 2 sections of existing law, and created 1 new provision of its own. Read from the bill text in its final form, as sent to the President.

38 U.S.C. 1562 Special provisions relating to pension

  • (a) (1) The Secretary shall pay monthly to each living person whose name has been… added to · Sec. 3(1) · see the words
  • (e) Effective as of December 1 each year, the Secretary shall increase the amount… added to · Sec. 3(2) · see the words

38 U.S.C. 5503 Hospitalized veterans and estates of incompetent institutionalized veterans

  • (d) (1) For the purposes of this subsection— changed · Sec. 4 · see the words

New provisions of the bill's own

  • Sec. 2 Findings
What the words changed: every change, in place (7)

Today's wording of each part of the law, with what was struck out and added. Each change also gives the bill's own instruction, word for word.

  1. 38 U.S.C. 1562(a)(1)changedby H.R. 695 Sec. 3(1)

    (a)(1) (A) The Secretary 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, and a copy of whose certificate has been delivered to the Secretary under subsection (d) of section 1134a of title 10, a special pension at the rate of $1,406.73, as adjusted from time to time under subsection (e),1 beginning as of the date on which the person's name is entered on the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard Medal of Honor Roll under subsection (b) of such section.

    The bill says: by inserting "(A)" before "The Secretary";

    Bill text · Current law (38 U.S.C. 1562)

  2. 38 U.S.C. 1562(a)(1)changedby H.R. 695 Sec. 3(1)

    (a)(1) The Secretary 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, and a copy of whose certificate has been delivered to the Secretary under subsection (d) of section 1134a of title 10, a special pension at the rate of $1,406.73the rate described in subparagraph (B), as adjusted from time to time under subsection (e),1 beginning as of the date on which the person's name is entered on the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard Medal of Honor Roll under subsection (b) of such section.

    The bill says: by striking "the rate of $1,406.73" and inserting "the rate described in subparagraph (B)"; and

    Bill text · Current law (38 U.S.C. 1562)

  3. 38 U.S.C. 1562(a)(1)added (B)by H.R. 695 Sec. 3(1)

    (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.

    The bill says: by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

    Bill text · Current law (38 U.S.C. 1562)

  4. 38 U.S.C. 1562(e)changedby H.R. 695 Sec. 3(2)

    (e) (1) Effective as of December 1 each year, the Secretary shall increase the amount of monthly special pension payable under subsection (a) as of November 30 of such year by the same percentage as the percentage by which benefit amounts payable under title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.) are increased effective December 1 of such year as a result of a determination under section 215(i) of that Act (42 U.S.C. 415(i)).

    The bill says: by inserting "(1)" before "Effective";

    Bill text · Current law (38 U.S.C. 1562)

  5. 38 U.S.C. 1562(e)changedby H.R. 695 Sec. 3(2)

    (e) Effective as of December 1 each year, the Secretary , subject to paragraph (2), shall increase the amount of monthly special pension payable under subsection (a) as of November 30 of such year by the same percentage as the percentage by which benefit amounts payable under title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.) are increased effective December 1 of such year as a result of a determination under section 215(i) of that Act (42 U.S.C. 415(i)).

    The bill says: by inserting ", subject to paragraph (2)," before "shall"; and

    Bill text · Current law (38 U.S.C. 1562)

  6. 38 U.S.C. 1562(e)added (2)by H.R. 695 Sec. 3(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.

    The bill says: by adding at the end the following new paragraph (2):

    Bill text · Current law (38 U.S.C. 1562)

  7. 38 U.S.C. 5503(d)(7)changedby H.R. 695 Sec. 4

    (7) This subsection expires on November 30, 2031January 31, 2033.

    The bill says: Section 5503(d)(7) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking "November 30, 2031" and inserting "January 31, 2033".

    Bill text · Current law (38 U.S.C. 5503)

From the bill's official text on GovInfo and the U.S. Code, 2024 edition, which may not yet show changes made since.

What it does

Sourced

Medal of Honor Act

This act increases the monthly special pension for living Medal of Honor recipients. The act also prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs from increasing the amount of the pension for inflation if the amount was already increased during such year.

Additionally, the act extends a limitation on the pension paid to veterans who reside in Medicaid nursing homes and have no spouse or child. Currently, such pensions are limited to $90 per month through November 30, 2031. The act extends this limitation through January 31, 2033.

Official summary by the Congressional Research Service (Public Law, Dec 1, 2025).

Our plain-language breakdown, with what it means for you and the case for and against, is written once a bill starts to move.

What has happened

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  1. 2025-12-01Became Public Law No: 119-43.Library of Congress
  2. 2025-12-01Became Public Law No: 119-43.Library of Congress
  3. 2025-12-01Signed by President.Library of Congress
  4. 2025-12-01Signed by President.Library of Congress
  5. 2025-11-25Presented to President.House floor actions
  6. 2025-11-25Presented to President.Library of Congress
  7. 2025-11-07Message on Senate action sent to the House.Senate
  8. 2025-11-07Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7976-7977)Senate
  9. 2025-11-07Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.Library of Congress
  10. 2025-11-07Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.Senate
  11. 2025-11-07Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.Library of Congress
  12. 2025-02-27Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.Senate
  13. 2025-02-26Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.House floor actions
  14. 2025-02-26On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 424 - 0 (Roll no. 51). (text: CR H857) Roll call recordHouse floor actions
  15. 2025-02-26Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 424 - 0 (Roll no. 51). (text: CR H857) Roll call recordLibrary of Congress
  16. 2025-02-26DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 695.House floor actions
  17. 2025-02-26Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H857-859)House floor actions
  18. 2025-02-26Mr. Bost moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.House floor actions
  19. 2025-01-23Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.House floor actions
  20. 2025-01-23Introduced in HouseLibrary of Congress
  21. 2025-01-23Introduced in HouseLibrary of Congress

Show key steps only

After it became law

Sourced

Since it became law on Dec 1, 2025, the Federal Register, the government's daily record of rules and notices, has published 1 document that name it: 1 notice.

Named in the body of the document

The quote shows how each one uses the law: as the reason for a change, as background, or in passing.

  1. NoticeJan 28, 2026Management and Budget Office
    Notice; 2025 Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act Annual Report
    …Law 119-37, Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026; Public Law 119-39, Internal Revenue Service Math and Taxpayer Help Act; Public Law 119-43, Medal of Honor Act; Public Law 119-58, Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025; and Public Law 119-60, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026.

Found by searching the Federal Register for Public Law 119-43 and the law's names, then reading each document: every one listed contains them, and the quote is its own words. An agency can carry out a law without naming it, so this list can miss some. Checked Oct 27, 2026. Every new law's rules

Recorded votes

Sourced

Feb 26, 2025 · House roll call 51 · needed 2/3

On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended: Passed 424–0

R 213 yes, 0 no, 5 present or not votingD 211 yes, 0 no, 4 present or not voting

How each member voted · Official record

Cosponsors

  • Lauren Boebert R-CO-4
  • Monica De La Cruz R-TX-15
  • Chris Pappas D-NH-1
  • Jefferson Van Drew R-NJ-2