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President Donald Trump on Monday signed two bipartisan measures into law, approving legislation that increases pensions for Medal of Honor recipients and reauthorizes federal support for addiction treatment and recovery programs.
The first bill, H.R. 695, known as the Medal of Honor Act, delivers the first pension increase in nearly 25 years for service members who received the nation’s highest military award. Medal of Honor recipients are granted a special pension by Congress, and lawmakers said the update brings the benefit in line with inflation and rising living costs. Supporters described the change as an overdue recognition of the extraordinary sacrifices made by recipients of the medal.
“I was proud to join President Trump at the White House as he signed the House version of my MEDAL Act into law. The bill increases the monthly pension to Medal of Honor recipients, as part of recognizing the incredible sacrifices they’ve made. I’m committed to honoring what these heroes have done for the United States of America,” Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz posted to X.
President Trump also signed H.R. 2483, the SUPPORT for Patients and Communications Reauthorization Act of 2025. The law renews funding for federal initiatives aimed at preventing, treating, and supporting recovery for individuals struggling with substance use disorder.
H.R. 2483 extends programs first established under the 2018 SUPPORT Act and ensures continued investment in local treatment networks, public health outreach, and long-term recovery services. Public health groups and state officials had urged Congress to maintain the funding, calling it critical to ongoing efforts to address the opioid crisis.
Veterans’ organizations had pressed lawmakers to advance the Medal of Honor pension increase, while addiction-treatment advocates rallied behind the SUPPORT Act renewal. The bills were signed together at a brief ceremony at the White House, where administration officials highlighted the measures as examples of progress in both national defense policy and domestic health priorities.
Though narrower in scope than larger legislative packages, the enactment of the two bills represents incremental movement on issues with wide public interest. The changes provide updated financial recognition for the military’s most decorated heroes and ensure that communities continue to receive federal support in the fight against addiction.