Living Medal of Honor recipients will now collect roughly $67,500 annually after President Donald Trump signed a new law on Monday.

This step reflects a long overdue, carefully chosen effort to honor those who earned the nation’s highest award through acts of extraordinary courage.

The measure, known as the Monetary Enhancement for Distinguished Active Legends, or MEDAL Act, raises the monthly pension for recipients from about $1,489.73 to $5,625.

Trump's Sovereign Wealth Fund: What Could It Mean For Your Money?

This substantial increase helps cover the costs associated with having earned the nation’s top decoration, including travel and appearances that often accompany the honor.

In a release on Tuesday, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who sponsored his chamber’s version of the bill, underscored the moral obligation behind the move. “While we will never be able to repay the debt we owe to the men and women whose actions earned them this medal, we can continue to honor them by ensuring they are cared for, respected, and supported.”

Representative Troy Nehls, R-Texas, who carried the bill in the House for two years with Rep. Chris Pappas, D-N.H., stressed the practical relief the measure offers.

“They never ask for special recognition or demand special treatment. Many of them spend most of their time traveling our country, telling their stories, inspiring the next generation of America’s heroes,” he said. “My bill … eases the financial burden of our nation’s highest decorated veterans by increasing their special pension.”

This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year

This reform traces back to a century of policy decisions surrounding the Medal of Honor. Congress first approved pensions beyond other government benefits in 1916, at a time when recipients were paid $10 a month. The last adjustment before this bill was enacted came in 2002, raising the monthly payment to about $1,000.

Under the current law, the monthly amount previously stood at $1,489.73, based on the $1,000 flat rate plus an annual cost of living adjustment. Earlier proposals had contemplated a much larger annual figure, but the enacted plan centers on a steady, predictable benefit that acknowledges sacrifice without creating fiscal uncertainty.

There are 61 living Medal of Honor recipients, according to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. The medal itself began in 1863 to recognize service members who demonstrate “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty.”

To date, 3,547 Medals of Honor have been awarded to 3,528 service members, with 19 individuals earning the decoration more than once. This context helps explain why lawmakers felt a strong sense of duty to reaffirm the nation’s promise to its most decorated veterans.

Pappas said he proposed the bill to “keep our promise to service members and veterans.” The sentiment, he noted, reflects a broader commitment to honoring service through real, tangible support that continues after the uniform comes off.

“We must honor our service members that have earned this award by ensuring they are financially secure after their military service is over,” Pappas said while introducing the bill earlier this year.

The historical arc runs from the Civil War era through today. The first recipient was Jacob Parrott, an Army lieutenant who led a bold incursion into Georgia in 1862 during the Civil War and captured a train near Big Shanty, part of a broader operation to disrupt rail links between Chattanooga and Atlanta.

The most recent living recipient is retired Army Captain Larry Taylor of Chattanooga, who was awarded the medal in 2023 for heroism as a helicopter pilot in the Vietnam War.

Taylor’s story is emblematic: he flew more than 2,000 combat missions and was forced down under enemy fire five times.

He earned the Medal of Honor for rescuing a four-man patrol under heavy fire, hovering close to the ground so the soldiers could cling to the helicopter’s skids.

Taylor’s impressive record includes a Silver Star for the same operation, and Sgt. David Hill spent more than three decades lobbying for an upgrade to that recognition.

The new law aligns with the Trump administration’s emphasis on veterans and national service, and it resonates with the defense establishment’s insistence on not leaving those who sacrificed for the country without essential support.

Under Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s approach, the administration is signaling a principled preference for honoring duty as a practical, ongoing obligation—one that helps veterans transition to civilian life with financial stability and the respect they have earned.

In short, this is not merely a ceremonial gesture. It is a sustained commitment to the men and women who have stood in the breach, faced danger, and carried the nation’s trust.

By strengthening their financial security, the nation upholds the values they defended and reinforces the idea that sacrifice in service carries enduring consequences for the country as a whole.

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of DrewBerquist.com. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.