RETROACTIVITY OF MEDAL OF HONOR SPECIAL PENSION.

SEC. 577. RETROACTIVITY OF MEDAL OF HONOR SPECIAL PENSION. (a) Entitlement.—In the case of Vernon J. Baker, Edward A. Carter, Junior, and Charles L. Thomas, who were awarded the Medal of Honor pursuant to section 561 of Public Law 104— 201 (110 Stat. 2529) and whose names have been entered and recorded on the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard Medal of Honor Roll, the entitlement of those persons to the special pension provided under section 1562 of title 38, United States Code (and antecedent provisions of law), shall be effective as follows: (1) In the case of Vernon J. Baker, for months that begin after April 1945. (2) In the case of Edward A. Carter, Junior, for months that begin after March 1945. (3) In the case of Charles L. Thomas, for months that begin after December 1944. (b) Amount.—The amount of the special pension payable under subsection (a) for a month beginning before the date of the enactment of this Act shall be the amount of the special pension provided by law for that month for persons entered and recorded on the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard Medal of Honor Roll (or an antecedent Medal of Honor Roll required by law). (c) Payment to Next of Kin.—In the case of a person referred to in subsection (a) who died before receiving full payment of the pension pursuant to this section, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall pay the total amount of the accrued pension, upon receipt of application for payment within one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, to the deceased person’s spouse or, if there is no surviving spouse, then to the deceased person’s children, per stirpes, in equal shares.