VA Benefits: Proposal to Boost Payments for Thousands Touted by Congressman
Summary
A new bipartisan bill called the Major Richard Star Act aims to let combat-injured veterans receive their full military retirement pay and Veterans Affairs (VA) disability compensation at the same time. Currently, many injured veterans lose part of their retirement pay when they get disability benefits, but this bill would stop that reduction.Key Facts
- The Major Richard Star Act (H.R. 2102) is supported by Representative Don Davis, a Democrat.
- It would let eligible combat-injured veterans receive both full military retirement and full VA disability payments.
- Current law reduces military retirement pay dollar-for-dollar for veterans who get VA disability compensation.
- The bill targets veterans medically retired due to combat injuries who served less than 20 years.
- Representative Davis held a veterans’ roundtable in North Carolina to discuss the bill.
- The bill would take effect immediately if passed, with no gradual phase-in.
- The change would increase monthly income for affected veterans by eliminating their “wounded warrior tax.”
- The bill aims to fix a policy many see as unfair to veterans forced into early retirement by combat injuries.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.