Major Richard Star Act
Rep. Bilirakis Introduces Major Richard Star Act to End Benefit Offsets for Combat-Injured Veterans
Stalled
No legislative action in over 90 days.
↔Companion bill: Bipartisan Bill in Congress Aims to End Benefit Cuts for Combat-Injured VeteransLegislative Progress
Key Points
- This bill would allow veterans who were forced to retire early due to combat-related injuries to receive their full military retirement pay and their VA disability compensation at the same time. Currently, many of these veterans have their retirement pay reduced by the amount of disability pay they receive.
- The change specifically helps 'Chapter 61' retirees, who are service members medically retired with fewer than 20 years of service because of injuries sustained in combat or combat-related training. It aims to end what many veterans' groups call an unfair 'offset' that forces injured heroes to give up part of the pension they earned.
- If passed, the new rules would take effect on the first day of the first month after the bill is signed into law. This would provide a significant monthly income boost for thousands of veterans who were injured in the line of duty and could no longer serve a full 20-year career.
- The bill has massive bipartisan support, with Rep. Bilirakis and over 150 co-sponsors from both parties signing on at the time of introduction. This broad support highlights a shared goal of ensuring that combat-injured veterans receive the full value of the benefits they were promised.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Life & Work
Combat-injured veterans who were medically retired with fewer than 20 years of service (Chapter 61 retirees) would finally receive both their full military retirement pay and their VA disability compensation at the same time. Right now, these veterans lose a dollar of retirement pay for every dollar of disability pay they get — an offset that can cost them thousands of dollars a month. This bill eliminates that offset permanently, giving these veterans a significant and lasting income boost.
Programs
Disabilities
Milestones
Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Major Richard Star Act
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
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