US House maneuver enables vote on Major Richard Star Act

A legislative maneuver in the US House of Representatives has cleared a path for a vote on the Major Richard Star Act. The legislation aims to allow eligible combat-injured retirees to receive both their full military retired pay and Department of Veterans Affairs disability compensation.

Under current concurrent receipt policies, some combat-injured veterans face reductions in their military retired pay when they receive VA disability benefits. Rep. Mark Takano of California, the ranking Democrat on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, is leading efforts to advance the bill through a discharge petition. The petition, which reached the necessary 218 signatures on September 15, includes support from Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina.

Proponents of the act state that approximately 59,000 combat-injured veterans are affected by these payment reductions. The motion to discharge the House Rules Committee follows the required legislative waiting periods, moving the bill toward a potential floor vote.