Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) on Tuesday joined 43 bipartisan colleagues in the Senate and 186 bipartisan members of the House of Representatives to reintroduce the Major Richard Star Act, a bill aimed at ensuring fair benefits for combat-injured veterans.
The legislation seeks to correct an existing policy that prevents medically retired veterans with less than 20 years of service from receiving both Department of Defense (DoD) retirement pay and VA disability compensation. Under current law, veterans face a dollar-for-dollar offset, forcing them to forfeit part of the benefits they earned through service.
If passed, the Major Richard Star Act would:
- Eliminate the offset that reduces retirement pay for veterans who medically retired due to combat-related injuries but served fewer than 20 years.
- Ensure full concurrent receipt of both DoD retirement pay and VA disability compensation for affected veterans.
- Honor the legacy of Major Richard A. Star, a decorated war veteran forced to medically retire due to combat-related injuries.
Senator Scott: “Veterans Deserve the Full Benefits They Earned”
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Senator Scott, a U.S. Navy veteran and son of a World War II veteran, emphasized the importance of treating veterans fairly and ensuring they receive the full benefits they earned.
“I am a proud veteran and the son of a World War II veteran, and I have immense respect for anyone who puts on the uniform to defend our nation,” Scott said. “Our veterans are American heroes who have made countless sacrifices. The Major Richard Star Act ensures our veterans receive the full benefits they’ve earned through their service and sacrifice protecting our nation regardless of length of service. This legislation makes a critical change to treat our veterans fairly and support our nation’s heroes. I urge my colleagues to support its quick passage.”
The Major Richard Star Act has received bipartisan support from lawmakers in both the Senate and House, reflecting broad agreement on the need to fix the offset issue affecting thousands of combat-injured veterans.
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With backing from veterans’ advocacy groups and a growing coalition of bipartisan lawmakers, the bill’s supporters hope to fast-track its passage in both chambers of Congress.
The legislation will now move through the Senate and House Armed Services Committees, where it is expected to receive further debate before potentially advancing to a full vote.
If passed, the Major Richard Star Act would represent a significant victory for veterans’ rights advocates and provide long-overdue financial relief to thousands of combat-injured service members across the country.
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