A Florida congressman has teamed up with a presidential candidate to increase stipends for Medal of Honor recipients.
U.S. Rep. David Jolly, R-Fla., who is running for the U.S. Senate in 2016, is the House sponsor of a bill raising monthly stipends for Medal of Honor winners to $3,000 a month. Jolly, who is running for the Republican nomination to replace U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., in 2016, introduced the bill on Friday and it was sent to the U.S. House Veterans Affairs Committee
One of Rubio’s presidential rivals is championing the bill in the Senate. U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who is running for the Republican presidential nomination, is the Senate sponsor. Graham brought out the bill on Thursday and it was sent to the U.S. Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.
Currently Medal of Honor recipients receive slightly more than $1,000 a month in stipends. First awarded in 1863 to six volunteers fighting for the Union in the Civil War, the Medal of Honor is the highest military honor the federal government can bestow. There are currently 79 Medal of Honor recipients who are alive and, since first being established, almost 3,500 service members have been awarded the honor.
“The acts of bravery, courage and valor demonstrated by this group of heroes who fought for our nation goes well above and beyond the call of duty,” Jolly said on Monday. “This is one small way that we can repay a tremendous debt of gratitude for these individuals who have done so much while protecting our freedom.
“This increase will better enable Medal of Honor recipients to reach out to Americans across the nation, representing the valor and honor of military service to hundreds of thousands of people by sharing their personal stories, dedication to serve and love of country,” Jolly added.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
