Support the Major Richard Star Act

ACTION NEEDED

Urge your Members of Congress to support the Major Richard Star Act, introduced in the 119th Congress as H.R. 2102 and S. 1032. This bipartisan legislation would allow combat-injured service members who were medically retired under Chapter 61 to receive both their full military retired pay and their veterans’ disability compensation without an offset, correcting a longstanding inequity for wounded veterans.

BACKGROUND

Under current law, many service members who are medically retired because of combat-related injuries or illnesses do not receive the full value of both the military retired pay they earned and the veterans’ disability compensation they are owed. Instead, their retired pay is reduced by the amount of their VA disability compensation, creating a financial penalty for some of the nation’s most seriously wounded veterans.

The Major Richard Star Act would fix this inequity for disability retirees with combat-related disabilities, including many veterans who were forced to leave military service before reaching 20 years because of their injuries. The bill would amend federal law to permit concurrent receipt of veterans’ disability compensation and retired pay for eligible Chapter 61 disability retirees with combat-related disabilities.

Supporting this legislation honors the sacrifices of combat-wounded veterans and helps ensure they are not forced to forfeit one earned benefit in order to receive another. Counties have a strong interest in policies that support veterans, military families and the long-term economic stability of the communities they return home to after service.

Congress should act to pass the Major Richard Star Act and end this offset for eligible veterans with combat-related disabilities. Enacting the bill would represent a meaningful step toward fair treatment for those whose military careers were cut short by wounds sustained in service to the nation.

KEY TALKING POINTS

• The Major Richard Star Act would allow eligible combat-injured Chapter 61 disability retirees to receive both their full military retired pay and their VA disability compensation.
• Congress should correct this longstanding inequity so that wounded veterans are not penalized financially because combat-related injuries forced them into medical retirement before completing a full career.
• Passing H.R. 2102 and S. 1032 would demonstrate bipartisan support for veterans whose service and sacrifice have already cost them their health and military careers.