House moves to advance Major Richard Star Act for combat-injured veterans

The House of Representatives has taken a procedural step to advance the Major Richard Star Act, which aims to allow eligible combat-injured military retirees to receive their full military retired pay alongside Department of Veterans Affairs disability compensation, according to reports from Military Times and Marine Corps Times.

Currently, under the concurrent receipt policy, some combat-injured retirees experience reductions in their military retired pay when they receive VA disability benefits. Antonio Gordon, a medically retired Army veteran, estimates he has lost nearly $100,000 due to this policy since 2019.

The Major Richard Star Act has garnered broad bipartisan support but has faced repeated delays before a final vote. At a Capitol Hill news conference, Rep. Mark Takano, the ranking Democrat on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, called for swift House passage and momentum toward Senate approval.

Takano announced his intent to offer a motion to discharge the House Rules Committee from considering a resolution that governs debate on the bill. He emphasized that the 59,000 combat-injured veterans have waited long enough for this legislation.

If the measure is not enacted before the end of the 119th Congress, supporters will need to reintroduce it in the next session, according to the reports.