Major Richard Star Act

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.