House passes Major Richard Star Act

Key Takeaways

On November 12, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the bipartisan Major Richard Star Act (H.R. 2102) by a vote of 392-18. This bill allows veterans with a combat-related disabilities to receive retirement pay, without reduction, concurrently with their disability compensation. This includes veterans with a combat-related disability and fewer than 20 years of creditable service. (Currently, veterans who receive combat-related special compensation and retirement pay are subject to an offset in retirement pay for concurrent receipt of such benefits).

NACo supports the Major Richard Star Act and welcomes its passage in the House. The U.S. Senate will now receive the bill for consideration, and NACo urges the legislation to pass before the end of the year. 

What is the bill?

The Major Richard Star Act would allow approximately 54,000 veterans who were forced to medically retire due to a combat-injury to concurrently collect both military retirement pay and disability pay from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Under current law, veterans who were medical retired because of injuries incurred in combat or combat-related training are only eligible for their full retirement pay from the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) and disability compensation from the VA if they served for 20 years and have a disability rating of 50 percent or higher. 

The expansion of benefits access would permit those veterans who sacrificed a great deal in combat or combat-related training to receive due compensation. Counties support the Major Richard Star Act and urge Congress to pass the legislation.

What happens next?

The legislation now awaits consideration in the Senate. NACo urges the Senate to consider and pass the legislation before the end of the 119th Congress. NACo will continue to monitor the legislation and provide updates to membership.