Bipartisan Legislation Seeks to Correct Injustice for Combat-Injured Veterans

Strategic Insights -

The Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, led by Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID), and U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), has announced the filing of the Major Richard Star Act as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This legislation aims to correct a severe injustice for combat-injured veterans who are denied fair compensation for their military service. Currently, only veterans with disability ratings above 50 percent and more than 20 years of service are eligible to receive the full amount of their Department of Defense (DOD) retirement and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability payments, leaving behind more than 50,000 combat-injured military retirees.

The Major Richard Star Act would fix this policy by providing medical retirees with a combat-related disability their full VA disability and DOD retirement payments. The amendment has 76 bipartisan cosponsors and is supported by numerous military, veterans, and survivor organizations.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Major Richard Star Act aims to correct an injustice for combat-injured veterans who are denied fair compensation for their military service.
  • Currently, only veterans with disability ratings above 50 percent and more than 20 years of service are eligible to receive the full amount of their DOD retirement and VA disability payments.
  • The amendment would provide medical retirees with a combat-related disability their full VA disability and DOD retirement payments.
  • The legislation is named in honor of Major Richard A. Star, a decorated war veteran who was forced to medically retire due to his combat-related injuries.
  • The amendment has 76 bipartisan cosponsors and is supported by numerous military, veterans, and survivor organizations.
  • The Senate is expected to begin consideration of the NDAA next week.
  • The legislation has been endorsed by organizations including the Air Force Sergeants Association (AFSA), American Legion, and Wounded Warrior Project (WWP).
  • The Senators' legislation seeks to attach the Major Richard Star Act to the annual must-pass defense bill, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

Statistics:

  • More than 50,000 combat-injured military retirees are denied fair, complete compensation for their military service.
  • The amendment would benefit tens of thousands of combat-injured veterans who are subject to a dollar-for-dollar offset of their VA disability and military retirement benefits.
  • 76 bipartisan cosponsors support the legislation.

Sources:

  • U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs
  • Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
  • U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID)
  • U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
  • Air Force Sergeants Association (AFSA)
  • American Legion
  • Wounded Warrior Project (WWP)
  • Air and Space Forces Association (AFA)
  • American GI Forum
  • American Logistics Association
  • American Military Society
  • American Veterans (AMVETS)
  • America's Warrior Partnership
  • American WWII Orphans Network
  • Armed Forces Retiree Association
  • Army Aviation Association of America (AAAA)
  • Association of Military Surgeons of the United States (AMSUS)
  • Association of the United States Army (AUSA)
  • Association of the United States Navy (AUSN)
  • Blinded Veterans Association (BVA)
  • Blue Star Families
  • Burn Pits 360
  • Catholic War Veterans of the USA and Auxiliary
  • Chief Warrant Officers Association of the US Coast Guard (CWOA)
  • Code of Support Foundation
  • Commissioned Officers Association of the U.S. Public Health Service, Inc. (COA)
  • Disabled American Veterans (DAV)
  • Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services
  • Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States
  • Fleet Reserve Association (FRA)
  • Gold Star Spouses of America
  • Grunt Style Foundation
  • Gold Star Wives of America (GSW)
  • Healing Household
  • Heroes Athletic Association
  • Hire Heroes USA
  • HunterSeven Foundation
  • Japanese American Veterans Association
  • Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA)
  • Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America (JWV)
  • K9s for Warriors
  • Marine Corps League (MCL)
  • Marine Corps Reserve Association (MCRA)
  • Military Chaplains Association of the United States of America (MCA)
  • Military Family Advisory Network
  • Military Officers Association of America (MOAA)
  • Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH)
  • Mission Roll Call
  • National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs (NASDVA)
  • National Defense Committee
  • National Guard Association of the United States
  • National Military Family Association (NMFA)
  • Naval Enlisted Reserve Association (NERA)
  • Non Commissioned Officers Association (NCOA)
  • Operation First Response
  • Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA)
  • Project Sanctuary
  • The Ranger Leadership and Policy Center
  • Quality of Life Foundation
  • Reserve Organization of America (ROA)
  • Sea Service Family Foundation
  • Stronghold Freedom Foundation
  • Student Veterans of America
  • TBI Warrior Foundation
  • Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS)
  • The Retired Enlisted Association (TREA)
  • The Independence Fund (TIF)
  • United States Army Warrant Officers Association (USAWOA)
  • USCG Chief Petty Officers Association (CPOA)
  • United Through Reading
  • VetsFirst/United Spinal Association
  • Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
  • Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA)
  • Wounded Paw Project