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Legislative bills

Bipartisan Senators Introduce Major Richard Star Act to Fix Veteran Disability Payments

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

U.S. Senators Mike Crapo, Richard Blumenthal, and Elizabeth Warren have announced their plan to file the Major Richard Star Act as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This legislation seeks to correct a severe injustice faced by combat-injured military retirees, who are currently denied full VA disability and DOD retirement payments due to a dollar-for-dollar offset. The Senators aim to pass the bill, which has 76 bipartisan cosponsors and support from various military, veterans, and survivor organizations.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Major Richard Star Act aims to correct a severe injustice for combat-wounded veterans, allowing them to collect full benefits they've earned.
  • Currently, only veterans with disability ratings above 50 percent and more than 20 years of service are eligible to receive full VA disability and DOD retirement payments, leaving behind more than 50,000 combat-injured military retirees.
  • The legislation is named in honor of Major Richard A. Star, a decorated war veteran who lost his battle with cancer in 2021.
  • The Senators' bill has 76 bipartisan cosponsors, including Senator Warren's statement, "Our veterans put their lives on the line for this country, and it's time our government gives them the full benefits they've earned."
  • The Major Richard Star Act is supported by various military, veterans, and survivor organizations, including the Air Force Sergeants Association (AFSA), American Legion, and Wounded Warrior Project (WWP).

Statistics:

  • Over 50,000 combat-injured military retirees are denied full VA disability and DOD retirement payments.
  • The Major Richard Star Act aims to correct this injustice, allowing these veterans to collect full benefits they've earned.
  • The bill has 76 bipartisan cosponsors.
  • The American Legion, one of the supporting organizations, has over 2,000,000 members worldwide.
  • The Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) has served over 200,000 veterans and their families since its inception.

Sources:

  • United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo
  • United States Senator for Connecticut Richard Blumenthal
  • United States Senator for Massachusetts Elizabeth Warren
  • Air Force Sergeants Association (AFSA)
  • American Legion
  • Wounded Warrior Project (WWP)
  • MIL OSI USA News

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