Weekly Column: Pushing For Full Military Benefits For Idaho's Combat-Injured Veterans

Our nation is indebted to those individuals who have served in the Armed Services, and it is important our nation’s troops and veterans know Congress will continue to support their needs after service.  I recently joined Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut) in leading the reintroduction of S.1032, the Major Richard Star Act.  This bipartisan legislation would provide combat-injured veterans their full benefits. 

Currently, only veterans with disability ratings above 50 percent and more than 20 years of service are eligible to receive the full amount of their U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) retirement and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability payments--leaving behind more than 50,000 combat-injured military retirees, including hundreds in Idaho. 

The Major Richard Star Act would fix this unjust policy for retired combat veterans, providing them the full VA disability and DOD retirement payments earned by their service.  Specifically, the legislation would allow combat-wounded veterans who are medically-retired with less than 20 years of service to participate in the Concurrent Receipt Program, receiving both their retirement pay through the DOD and their disability compensation through the VA.

This bipartisan legislation is named in honor of Major Richard A. Star, a decorated war veteran who was forced to medically retire due to his combat-related injuries.  He was a tireless advocate for ensuring all active duty and retired military personnel across the country, including Idaho, receive the full care and benefits they have earned.  Major Star sadly lost his battle with cancer on February 13, 2021. 

The Major Richard Star Act has broad support within Congress and among veterans and military organizations.  S. 1032 has 55 bipartisan co-sponsors, including fellow U.S. Senator for Idaho Jim Risch.  Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-Florida) and Raul Ruiz (D-California) introduced companion legislation, with 236 bipartisan co-sponsors, in the U.S. House of Representatives.  The bipartisan effort to provide combat-injured veterans their due benefits is supported by a long list of Veterans Service Organizations that include: the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Gold Star Wives of America, Marine Corps League, Military Order of the Purple Heart and Vietnam Veterans of America.  A full list of supporting organizations can be found here.  Supporters also include Idaho veterans who have informed my decision to co-lead the legislation and have worked to gain support for ending pay offsets for medically retired combat veterans.

The Major Richard Star Act would correct a severe injustice for combat-wounded veterans.  The support for this correction is clear.  Though the namesake of our legislation is no longer with us, I continue to press for its passage on behalf of the more than 50,000 veterans, including hundreds in Idaho, who stand to benefit.

# # #