Major Richard Star Act
Bipartisan Bill in Congress Aims to End Benefit Cuts for Combat-Injured Veterans
Stalled
No legislative action in over 90 days.
↔Companion bill: Rep. Bilirakis Introduces Major Richard Star Act to End Benefit Offsets for Combat-Injured VeteransLegislative Progress
Key Points
- This bill stops the government from reducing retirement pay for veterans who were forced to retire early due to combat-related injuries. Currently, many of these veterans have their retirement checks cut by the same amount they receive in disability benefits, which is often called an 'offset.'
- The change would help veterans who were injured in combat or during combat training. It ensures they get the full amount of both the retirement they earned through their service and the disability pay they deserve for their injuries.
- Right now, only veterans with at least 20 years of service can usually keep both full checks. This bill expands that to include those who had to retire sooner because of their combat injuries, affecting tens of thousands of retired service members.
- If passed, the new rules would start on the first day of the month after the bill is signed into law. It would apply to all monthly payments from that point forward.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Life & Work
This bill eliminates the dollar-for-dollar offset that currently reduces military retirement pay for veterans who were medically retired due to combat-related disabilities with fewer than 20 years of service. Right now, these veterans lose a dollar of retirement pay for every dollar of VA disability compensation they receive — essentially canceling out one of their benefits. The Major Richard Star Act would let them collect both checks in full, which could mean thousands of extra dollars per month for tens of thousands of combat-injured retirees.
Programs
Disabilities
Milestones
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in Senate
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.
Related News
3 articles
Disabled Combat Veterans Feel Shortchanged, Push for Retirement Benefits
Combat veterans Chad Rogers and Lyle Allen share their struggles with the current benefit offset policy. The Major Richard Star Act would allow medically retired veterans with less than 20 years of service to receive both retirement pay and disability compensation simultaneously.
Lawmakers Try Again on Bill to Give 50,000 Medically Retired Veterans Full VA Disability, Retirement Pay
A bipartisan group of senators reintroduced the Major Richard Star Act in March 2025. The legislation aims to eliminate the dollar-for-dollar offset that reduces retirement pay for service members medically retired due to combat injuries before reaching 20 years of service.
Sen. Jon Tester on looming battles over debt, immigration in Congress
Senator Jon Tester discusses the Major Richard Star Act, arguing it is only fair that veterans forced to retire due to combat injuries receive both retirement and disability pay. He emphasizes that the nation must live up to its agreement with the all-volunteer military force.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Major Richard Star Act
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
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