Major Richard Star Act moves toward House vote

The Major Richard Star Act, a bipartisan piece of legislation, is expected to face a vote in the House of Representatives following a discharge petition that secured the necessary 218 signatures.

The act aims to address what veterans organizations describe as a “wounded veteran tax.” Under current laws, many combat-injured veterans who retired from the military must forfeit a portion of their military retirement pay to receive disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

If passed, the legislation would allow eligible combat-injured retirees to receive both their full military retirement pay and their earned VA disability compensation. The change could affect more than 50,000 military retirees, providing critical funds for medical expenses, housing, and adaptive equipment.