Armed Services Committee to Vote on Bilirakis Bill to Benefit Veterans

Washington, DC:  In a huge victory for more than 50,000 medically retired Veterans throughout the country, Representative Gus Bilirakis’s Major Richard Star Act has been scheduled for this week’s House Armed Services mark-up hearing.  This critical legislation seeks to rectify an injustice that keeps combat disabled Veterans from receiving full military benefits. Currently, medically retired Veterans are forbidden from receiving their full retirement pay and disability compensation. The Major Richard Star Act would repeal this unfair offset, allowing these disabled Veterans to receive both their retirement pay and their disability compensation. The bill is named in honor of Major Richard A. Star—a father, husband, and decorated war Veteran who, as a result of his combat-related injuries, was medically retired. Major Star sadly lost his battle with cancer on February 13, 2021.  This year, Congressman Bilirakis secured 324 co-sponsors for his important legislation.  Additionally, the Senate companion has been filed by Senators Tester, Crapo, and Moran, and it has garnered 66 bipartisan co-sponsors.

"The brave men and women who return from serving our country should be able to receive the benefits promised to them. Military retirement pay and service-connected disability compensation are two completely different benefits. One does not diminish the merits of the other," said Bilirakis. "I am committed to rectifying this injustice for all Veterans, and passage of the Major Richard Star Act will get us one step closer to our goal of ensuring that Veterans receive the benefits they have earned and deserve.  A special thank you to Chairman Mike Rogers for putting this bill on the agenda for this week’s hearing.  I will continue to work closely with House Leadership, including Speaker McCarthy and Leader Steve Scalise, who have been instrumental in helping advance this priority."