Key Facts

• The Major Richard Star Act would remove the rule that cuts military retirement pay when veterans receive Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability compensation.
• Currently, only veterans with 20 or more years of service and a VA disability rating of 50% or higher can get full military retirement pay and VA disability benefits at the same time.
• Veterans medically retired before 20 years, even due to combat injuries, often have their retirement pay reduced by the amount of their VA disability payments.
• About 54,000 combat-injured veterans could receive full benefits if the law passes.
• The bill is named after Army Reserve Major Richard Star, who was medically retired and later died from illness related to his service.
• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently said the Pentagon supports the bill during congressional testimony.
• The bill has strong bipartisan backing with many Senate and House co-sponsors but has been blocked mainly due to cost concerns.
• Estimated cost is approximately $11 billion over 10 years, with some estimates higher.
• Supporters hope the bill will be considered for a vote later this year, possibly by Veterans Day.