Some combat-injured service members were forced to leave the military early because of serious injuries. Even though they served honorably, they do not receive the full military retirement they earned.
Under current law, their military retirement pay is reduced because they also receive VA disability benefits. This means veterans injured in combat lose part of the retirement they earned through years of service simply because they were hurt while serving our country.
The Major Richard Star Act would fix this unfair treatment. But right now, the bill cannot move forward unless Congress takes the next step.
At this stage, only the Armed Services Committees can act. These committees decide whether this bill gets a hearing, and without a hearing a bill can stall even when it has strong support.
Although this legislation advanced in the last Congress, it never received a public hearing where veterans and experts could testify and members could ask questions on the record. As a result, concerns about the bill have continued to be discussed privately instead of publicly examined.
When you take action today, your message will be sent to your own member of Congress and matched to their role, whether they already support the bill, need to be asked to support it, or serve on the committee that can help secure a hearing.
This is how voices are heard in Congress. By speaking up now, you are helping push this bill toward real consideration and helping ensure combat-injured veterans are treated fairly.
