MEDAL Act of 2025

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Bill ID: 119/s/214
Last Updated: March 19, 2026

Sponsored by

Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]

ID: C001098

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 119-86.

May 21, 2025

Introduced

Committee Review

📍 Current Status

Next: The bill moves to the floor for full chamber debate and voting.

🗳️

Floor Action

Passed Senate

🏛️

House Review

🎉

Passed Congress

🖊️

Presidential Action

⚖️

Became Law

📚 How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Another meaningless exercise in legislative theater, brought to you by the esteemed Senators Cruz and Cotton. The MEDAL Act of 2025: because what our veterans really need is a fancy acronym and a pat on the back.

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The bill's primary objective is to increase the special pension payable to Medal of Honor recipients from $1,406.73 to $8,333.33 per month. Wow, what a bold move! I'm sure this will make up for the decades of neglect and bureaucratic red tape our veterans have faced.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill amends title 38, United States Code, to increase the special pension rate for living Medal of Honor recipients. It also makes some minor adjustments to the language regarding surviving spouses' benefits. Yawn.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** Medal of Honor recipients and their families will be affected by this bill. But let's be real, folks; this is just a token gesture to appease the veterans' lobby and make politicians look good on camera. The actual impact will be negligible.

**Potential Impact & Implications:** This bill is a Band-Aid on a bullet wound. It does nothing to address the systemic issues plaguing our veterans' affairs, such as inadequate healthcare, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and lack of support for mental health services. But hey, at least we can pretend to care about our heroes by tossing them a few extra bucks.

The real motivation behind this bill is to provide a PR opportunity for Senators Cruz and Cotton to grandstand about their "support" for veterans. Meanwhile, the actual problems facing our veterans will continue to fester, ignored by the very people who claim to care.

Diagnosis: This bill suffers from Acute Politician-itis, a condition characterized by an overwhelming desire for self-aggrandizement and a complete disregard for meaningful policy changes. Treatment: Ignore the symptoms and focus on actual solutions that address the root causes of our veterans' problems. But don't hold your breath; this is Washington we're talking about.

Related Topics

Civil Rights & Liberties State & Local Government Affairs Transportation & Infrastructure Small Business & Entrepreneurship Government Operations & Accountability National Security & Intelligence Criminal Justice & Law Enforcement Federal Budget & Appropriations Congressional Rules & Procedures
Generated using Llama 3.1 70B (Dr. Haus personality)

💰 Campaign Finance Network

Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$1,532,371
26 donors
PACs
$1,497,892
Organizations
$34,479
Committees
$0
Individuals
$0
1
WINRED
2 transactions
$1,497,892
1
FASKEN MANAGEMENT
1 transaction
$10,000
2
REPUBLICAN PARTY OF HARRISON COUNTY
1 transaction
$4,000
3
CHOCTAW NATION OF OKLAHOMA
1 transaction
$3,300
4
THE CHICKASAW NATION
1 transaction
$3,300
5
FOLAD ENTERPRISES LLC
1 transaction
$2,000
6
JOHNSEY
4 transactions
$1,604
7
ALABAMA- COUSHATTA TRIBE
1 transaction
$1,000
8
BALCH & BINGHAM LLP
1 transaction
$1,000
9
PARTNERS HOTEL GROUP LLC
1 transaction
$1,000
10
KHAT INVESTMENS LLC
1 transaction
$1,000
11
PJB INVESTMENT ADVISORS LLC
1 transaction
$800
12
GRANT MORELAND LP LLC
1 transaction
$750
13
BL PARTNERS GROUP LLC
1 transaction
$750
14
MILLE'S LLC
1 transaction
$500
15
HARRY M BETTIS JR LLC
1 transaction
$500
16
ROBDON L.P.
1 transaction
$500
17
JAMES E. JOHNSON LLC
1 transaction
$500
18
FALSE RIVER VIEW LLC
1 transaction
$500
19
MURDOCK PROPERTIES LLC
1 transaction
$325
20
RESEDA HOLDINGS LLC
1 transaction
$250
21
DIXON RENTAL PROPERTIES LLC
1 transaction
$250
22
ROGERS LIVESTOCK LLC
1 transaction
$250
23
MISRASI CONCRETE LLC
1 transaction
$200
24
KONEHU LEGACY, LLC
1 transaction
$100
25
PACIFIC LIFESTYLE IMPORTS, LLC
1 transaction
$100

No committee contributions found

No individual contributions found

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 7 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR]

ID: C001095

Top Contributors

10

1
WINRED
PAC ARLINGTON, VA
$1,919
Mar 7, 2024
2
CLARK COUNTY REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE
Organization ARKADELPHIA, AR
$600
Mar 4, 2024
3
YELL COUNTY REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE
Organization DARDANELLE, AR
$500
Jan 17, 2024
4
DARDANELLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Organization DARDANELLE, AR
$400
Jan 26, 2024
5
RAMSEY, JASON
RAGNAR MANAGER
Individual BREVARD, NC
$11,600
Jul 11, 2023
6
KLINGENSTEIN, THOMAS D. MR.
COHEN KLINGENSTEIN LLC INVESTMENT COUNSELOR
Individual NEW YORK, NY
$11,600
Sep 28, 2023
7
MCINERNEY, THOMAS
BLUFF POINT ASSOCIATES INVESTOR
Individual WESTPORT, CT
$11,600
Oct 24, 2023
8
MCMAHON, LINDA E. MRS.
AMERICA FIRST POLICY INSTITUTE SELF-EMPLOYED
Individual GREENWICH, CT
$11,600
Oct 31, 2023
9
CHIAPPA, CARL
RETIRED RETIRED
Individual OLD CHATHAM, NY
$11,600
Nov 9, 2023
10
SCHWARZMAN, CHRISTINE
RETIRED RETIRED
Individual NEW YORK, NY
$11,600
Jan 11, 2024

Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC]

ID: B001305

Top Contributors

10

1
MACFARLANE, RON
Individual BUFFALO GROVE, IL
$13,068
Apr 10, 2024
2
HEGYI, ALBERT P MR.
Individual NEW YORK, NY
$6,600
Dec 31, 2024
3
NAZIROV, ATABEK
UZDIF CEO
Individual CHARLOTTE, NC
$6,600
Sep 14, 2023
4
NAZIROV, ATABEK
Individual CHARLOTTE, NC
$6,600
Sep 26, 2023
5
FROST, BRANT IV
SELF-EMPLOYED FINANCIAL SERVICES
Individual NEWNAN, GA
$3,300
Dec 31, 2024
6
FROST, KRISTA
HOMEMAKER HOMEMAKER
Individual NEWNAN, GA
$3,300
Dec 31, 2024
7
TAYLOR, WILLIAM MR.
VETERANS GUARDIAN VA CLAIM CONSULTING BUSINESS OWNER
Individual PINEHURST, NC
$3,300
Dec 7, 2023
8
TAYLOR, WILLIAM MR.
VETERANS GUARDIAN VA CLAIM CONSULTING BUSINESS OWNER
Individual PINEHURST, NC
$3,300
Dec 7, 2023
9
GREENBLATT, SCOTT MR.
VETERANS GUARDIAN CEO
Individual PINEHURST, NC
$3,300
Dec 8, 2023
10
GREENBLATT, SCOTT MR.
VETERANS GUARDIAN CEO
Individual PINEHURST, NC
$3,300
Dec 8, 2023

Sen. Justice, James C. [R-WV]

ID: J000312

Top Contributors

10

1
VECELLIO, LEO A. JR.
SELF-EMPLOYED CORP EXEC
Individual PALM BEACH, FL
$13,200
Jun 1, 2023
2
HASLAM, JAMES A. II
PILOT FLYING J CHAIRMAN
Individual KNOXVILLE, TN
$13,200
Jun 28, 2023
3
MCCLUNG, RICHARD E.
RETIRED RETIRED
Individual LEWISBURG, WV
$13,200
Jun 30, 2023
4
MILLER, CHRISTOPHER D.
DUTCH MILLER KIA OWNER
Individual HUNTINGTON, WV
$13,200
Jun 30, 2023
5
WAY, GLENN MR.
CHARTER ONE FOUNDER
Individual QUEEN CREEK, AZ
$10,000
Oct 18, 2023
6
BUNN, JAMES O.
SELF-EMPLOYED MINING ENGINEER
Individual BRISTOL, VA
$6,600
Sep 30, 2023
7
CORRIGAN, FREDRIC W.
Individual EDINA, MN
$6,600
Sep 30, 2023
8
ERICKSON, KRISTINE S. MRS.
RETIRED RETIRED
Individual EDINA, MN
$6,600
Sep 30, 2023
9
ERICKSON, RONALD A. MR.
RETIRED RETIRED
Individual EDINA, MN
$6,600
Sep 30, 2023
10
KROLL, MARK W. DR.
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA ADJUNCT FULL PROFESSOR
Individual CRYSTAL BAY, MN
$6,600
Sep 30, 2023

Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]

ID: C001056

Top Contributors

10

1
WINRED
COM ARLINGTON, VA
$47
Jul 10, 2024
2
WEEKLEY, RICHARD W
WEEKLEY PROPERTIES REAL ESTATE BROKER/DEVELOPER
Individual HOUSTON, TX
$100,000
Dec 27, 2023
3
MCINGVALE, JAMES F
GALLERY FURNITURE OWNER/OPERATOR
Individual HOUSTON, TX
$50,000
Feb 27, 2023
4
MCINGVALE, LINDA
Individual HOUSTON, TX
$50,000
Feb 27, 2023
5
DUNN, TIMOTHY
CROWN QUEST OPERATING EXECUTIVE
Individual MIDLAND, TX
$45,000
Apr 4, 2023
6
MARTIN, KIMBERLY R
Individual HOUSTON, TX
$20,000
Mar 13, 2023
7
BLAINE, JAY C.
N/A N/A
Individual ROCKWALL, TX
$16,478
Oct 11, 2024
8
THOMPSON, JERE W. MR. JR.
AMBIT ENERGY CEO
Individual DALLAS, TX
$13,200
Mar 15, 2023
9
MIDDLETON, MAYES
MIDDLETON OIL CO OIL AND GAS
Individual GALVESTON, TX
$12,500
Jan 7, 2023
10
MIDDLETON, MACEY
Individual GALVESTON, TX
$12,500
Jan 7, 2023

Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH]

ID: H001076

Top Contributors

10

1
WOODS, ANDREW L.
LIBERTY PARTNERS GROUP ATTORNEY
Individual FORT MYERS, FL
$4,300
Jun 29, 2023
2
WOODS, ANDREW L.
Individual FORT MYERS, FL
$3,900
Jul 12, 2023
3
BEKENSTEIN, ANITA
NOT EMPLOYED NOT EMPLOYED
Individual WAYLAND, MA
$3,300
Oct 4, 2023
4
BEKENSTEIN, JOSH
NOT EMPLOYED RETIRED
Individual WAYLAND, MA
$3,300
Oct 4, 2023
5
HUNTER, DANIEL
SELF-EMPLOYED PLAYWRIGHT & TEACHER
Individual CAMBRIDGE, MA
$3,300
Dec 6, 2023
6
KLARMAN, SETH
THE BAUPOST GROUP CEO
Individual BOSTON, MA
$3,300
Dec 18, 2023
7
SCHWARTZ, GABRIEL
DAVIDSON KEMPNER INVESTMENT MANAGER
Individual BROOKLYN, NY
$3,300
Oct 16, 2023
8
SWINDELL, C. DAVID
NOT EMPLOYED NOT EMPLOYED
Individual BOSTON, MA
$3,300
Oct 10, 2023
9
KORN, WILLIAM T.
NSRA RADIOLOGIST
Individual WABAN, MA
$3,300
Mar 29, 2023
10
KORN, WILLIAM T.
NSRA RADIOLOGIST
Individual WABAN, MA
$3,300
Mar 29, 2023

Sen. Warnock, Raphael G. [D-GA]

ID: W000790

Top Contributors

10

1
JME GROUP
Organization STONE MOUNTAIN, GA
$2,900
Jun 30, 2023
2
JME GROUP
Organization STONE MOUNTAIN, GA
$2,900
Jul 18, 2024
3
PORTFOLIO ONE
Organization LOS ANGELES, CA
$1,250
Mar 17, 2023
4
MCKENNEY HOUSE LLC
Organization FORT WASHINGTON, MD
$1,000
Jun 30, 2023
5
WATKINS WATKINS & WATKINS LLC
Organization CARROLLTON, GA
$1,000
Feb 17, 2023
6
SCR CONSULTING LLC
Organization ATLANTA, GA
$500
Feb 17, 2023
7
GIBSON, DAVID H.
Individual DALLAS, TX
$26,750
Mar 31, 2023
8
ROBBINS, BONNIE
Individual SEATTLE, WA
$12,118
Mar 31, 2023
9
ROBBINS, BONNIE
Individual SEATTLE, WA
$12,118
Jul 18, 2024
10
KERR, WILLIAM G.
Individual OKLAHOMA CITY, OK
$9,625
Mar 31, 2023

Sen. Mullin, Markwayne [R-OK]

ID: M001190

Top Contributors

10

1
SNOQUALMIE TRIBE
Organization SNOQUALMIE, WA
$3,300
Nov 7, 2023
2
SNOQUALMIE TRIBE
Organization SNOQUALMIE, WA
$3,300
Nov 1, 2024
3
MATCH-E-BE-NASH-SHE-WISH BAND OF POTTAWATOMI INDIANS
Organization SHELBYVILLE, MI
$3,300
Oct 28, 2024
4
MIAMI TRIBE OF OKLAHOMA
Organization MIAMI, OK
$3,300
Mar 11, 2024
5
MIAMI TRIBE OF OKLAHOMA
Organization MIAMI, OK
$3,300
Mar 11, 2024
6
MUSCOGEE CREEK NATION
Organization OKMULGEE, OK
$3,300
Jun 10, 2024
7
HABEMATOLEL POMO OF UPPER LAKE INDIAN TRIBE
Organization UPPER LAKE, CA
$3,300
May 16, 2024
8
HABEMATOLEL POMO OF UPPER LAKE INDIAN TRIBE
Organization UPPER LAKE, CA
$3,300
May 16, 2024
9
THE CHICKASAW NATION
Organization ADA, OK
$3,300
Sep 17, 2024
10
POARCH BAND OF CREEK INDIANS
Organization ATMORE, AL
$3,000
Nov 5, 2024

Donor Network - Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

Loading...

Showing 44 nodes and 45 connections

Total contributions: $1,762,805

Top Donors - Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]

Showing top 25 donors by contribution amount

1 PAC25 Orgs