WASHINGTON–Last week, a major component of the EANGUS legislative agenda took one step closer to its goal: The Major Richard Star Act was reintroduced in the 119th Congress.
The bill ensures that combat-injured veterans receive full DOD retirement and VA disability pay. Since 2004, tens of thousands of veterans have been subjected to an offset that restricts them from receiving their full, earned compensation.
As stated in the white paper on the issue, EANGUS has long argued that retired pay and veteran service-connected disability compensation are fundamentally different benefits granted for various reasons. Military retired pay is an earned benefit for vested years of service. Service-connected disability compensation is for injury and to deny retired pay because of a disability is an injustice.
S. 1032 was introduced by Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Rick Scott (R-FL). The companion bill, H.R. 2102, was introduced by Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Raul Ruiz (D-CA).
The legislation has 43 bipartisan cosponsors in the Senate and 185 cosponsors in the House. In the 118th Congress, the bill would have passed with its cosponsors alone had it gone to a vote. This demonstrates the overwhelming support the Major Richard Star Act has on Capitol Hill as well as in the greater military community.
