House bill could allow medically retired veterans to receive full benefits

Veterans who were medically retired due to injuries sustained during deployment may soon receive both retirement and disability benefits if a new House bill passes, KWTX reported. The Major Richard Star Act seeks to end the current practice where disability benefits offset retirement pay, reducing the total compensation veterans receive.

Members of Congress, along with over 150 veterans and Veterans of Foreign Wars leaders, gathered to urge legislators to vote on the act. Representative Mark Takano emphasized the importance of supporting this legislation rather than cutting veterans' benefits.

Willie Keller, commander of VFW Post 12209 and a combat veteran injured during his last deployment to Afghanistan, shared how the bill could impact veterans like him. Keller currently receives only disability benefits because they exceed his retirement pay, but the bill would allow him to collect both.

Keller noted that many veterans in the community are affected by the current offset and that awareness of the bill is growing as veterans discuss it with their legislators. The act has been introduced in Congress and is expected to be voted on soon, potentially providing financial relief to numerous medically retired veterans across Central Texas.