More than 50,000 combat-injured veteran pensions are being drastically reduced. The Major Richard Star* Act could stop this inequity, but Congress, to its seemingly forever shame, is failing to take action. So, how are veterans being penalized?

"Veterans forced to medically retire due to combat or combat-related injuries do NOT receive their full military retirement pay from the Department of Defense (DoD) and their full disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Their DoD retirement pay is offset – dollar for dollar – by the amount of VA disability pay they receive, resulting in some veterans receiving no retirement benefits at all." (Source: Wounded Warrior Project - Understanding the Major Richard Star Act)

The average offset these veterans faced was nearly $1,900 monthly according to an article on Military.net. This bi-partisan act would remove the pay offset so that these combat veterans would receive their full retirement pay AND their full disability compensation.  

The Stars and Stripes newspaper reports "The bill has stalled in Congress over several sessions because of the cost — an estimated $9.75 billion over 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office." That is just short of one billion dollars A YEAR to take care of wounded veterans; meanwhile, the war with Iran is costing the U.S. taxpayer about one billion dollars A DAY and will most assuredly create another group of wounded veterans. Following each war is about a 70-year "tail" of costs relating to the care of those veterans. Unfortunately, that cost, likely in the trillions of dollars for Vietnam, is never calculated up-front while the war is on. Read more at: "Lawmakers, veterans make another plea for the Richard Star Act". Fiscal responsibility starts at home.

Given that there are over 10,000 veterans residing in Whatcom County, it is likely that some will fall within the scope of the proposed legislation. If you, a friend or a family member are affected, contact your representative, Rick Larsen, immediately and ask that he support the Major Richard Star Act.  

Honor our deceased veterans on Memorial Day by taking care of those who are still living.  

*"Maj. Richard Star, USAR, died in 2021 after battling cancer linked to burn pit exposure. When his illness forced him into an early military retirement, Star advocated tirelessly in support of legislation that would allow early retirees to collect both service-connected retirement pay and disability-based VA compensation without a dollar-for-dollar offset." (Source: Military Officers Association of America)