Bilirakis and Ruiz Bill to Provide Disabled Veterans Full Military Benefits Gains Enough Bipartisan Support to Be Fast-tracked

Washington, DC: – Earlier today Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Raul Ruiz (D-CA) secured over 290 co-sponsors of the Major Richard Star Act, enabling the bill to be added to the Consensus Calendar. According to clause 7 of House Rule XIII, the Consensus Calendar provides an alternative route to the floor for certain unreported House bills and resolutions that enjoy broad bipartisan support. In order to be placed on the Consensus Calendar, a House-originated measure must (1) not have been reported by its committee of primary jurisdiction and (2) have accumulated at least 290 cosponsors. The Major Richard Star Act meets this criteria, and Congressman Bilirakis filed the motion for the bill to be added to the Consensus Calendar earlier today.

This critical legislation will rectify an injustice that keeps combat disabled Veterans from receiving full military benefits. Currently, over 50,000 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. The Senate companion to the House Bill has been filed by Senators Tester, Crapo, and Moran, and it has garnered 61 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."

While Congressman Bilirakis has filed legislation each year he has been in office to rectify the injustice of concurrent receipt (H.R. 303) for retirees with 20 years or more of service, he has been simultaneously pursuing the Major Richard Star Act which will allow more Veterans who are just as deserving to receive the benefits to which they are rightfully entitled. "I'd like to thank the Veterans Service Organizations that have been tenacious in their outreach to Members of Congress throughout the country to request co-sponsorship. Because of their unwavering support, we are able to move this bill one step closer to becoming law," Bilirakis added.

"After serving and sacrificing for our nation, too many veterans face unnecessary roadblocks in receiving the benefits they need, have earned, and deserve," said Dr. Ruiz. "The Major Richard Star Act would repeal the unjust law that stands in the way of veterans receiving the military retirement pay and service-connected disability compensation that they have rightfully earned."

"It is with much gratitude that I thank Representatives Bilirakis and Ruiz for introducing the Major Richard Star Act, and for their continued commitment to helping our American soldiers, Veterans, and their families," said Tonya D. Star, spouse of Major Richard Star. "Before Major Richard Star lost his long-fought battle with cancer just a few days ago after 29 years of service, he made me promise him to continue to work with members of Congress to get this bill passed, and help the 42,000 families that would desperately benefit from it. It is my honor to carry on this effort in his memory."

"The Major Richard Star Act is common-sense legislation that will allow more injured veterans to access the benefits they've earned. Reaching this 290-cosponsor threshold is a testament to the broad bipartisan support this bill enjoys, and we hope the U.S. House of Representatives will vote on it shortly after returning from the August recess," said Jose Ramos, Vice President Government & Community Relations, Wounded Warrior Project.

"On behalf of the combat-injured servicemembers, who partially fund their VA disability by surrendering some or even all of their service-earned retirement, we are encouraged by this show of support for The Major Richard Star Act as it makes its way to the House Consensus Calendar later this week after securing 290 cosponsors. MOAA and other ardent supporters have diligently carried this torch to garner support and make way for those injured in combat to be eligible for their retirement pay. We encourage the 117^th Congress to solve this injustice this year – we still have time to get it done," noted Lt. Gen. Dana T. Atkins, USAF (Ret), MOAA president and CEO.

"The Independence Fund is supportive of the Major Richard Star Act. Combat Veterans are a testament to the grit, tenacity, and courage of our country, and those who incurred wounds in the line of duty deserve our country's best. Seeing a bipartisan, united front in Reps. Bilirakis and Ruiz working on behalf of disabled Veterans to restore their full military benefits is encouraging, commendable, and a reflection of the support we love to see for Veterans. The Independence Fund will work closely alongside Congress and our partner VSOs to see that the Star Act is passed without delay," said Sarah Verardo, CEO, The Independence Fund.

"On behalf of the 35 organizations in The Military Coalition (TMC) – and the 5.5 million service members, veterans, families, and survivors they represent – I thank Congressmen Bilirakis and Ruiz for their stalwart, bipartisan shepherding of this crucial legislation. Because of their hard work (and that of countless others), together with the overwhelming bipartisan, bicameral support the Major Richard Star act has received, our brave combat-wounded veterans are one step closer to finally receiving the concurrent retirement and disability benefits they earned in the crucible of battle," commented Jack Du Teil, President, The Military Coalition.

"The Jewish War Veterans of the USA (JWV) strongly supports combat-injured veterans and urges Congress to pass the Major Richard Star Act. Reducing retirement pay because of a disability is an injustice. Combat-injured veterans forced into early retirement by their injury are not receiving their vested longevity pay," said JWV National Commander Alan Paley. Paley stated "The Major Richard Star Act corrects this injustice. JWV steadfastly worked to increase the number of cosponsors and supports its addition to the Consensus Calendar. Now is the time for Congress to act and support more than 50,000 veterans." JWV applauds the bipartisan effort and thanks Congressmen Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Raul Ruiz (D-CA) for their unwavering support to enact the Star Act legislation.

"For decades, veterans have been fighting for full access to their earned retirement pay and disability compensation. The Major Richard Star Act represents the next step toward that end, and one for those who are arguably among the most deserving—our nation's military retired, combat disabled veterans. The VFW praises Representatives Bilirakis and Ruiz for their ardent leadership as this bipartisan and bicameral legislation reaches a critical milestone in the House," remarked Brittany Dymond, Associate Director with the VFW's National Legislative Service.

"I applaud Congress for its overwhelming bipartisan and bicameral support for the Major Richard Star Act. With 290 cosponsors in the House and 61 cosponsors in the Senate, this widely supported legislation will help over 50,000 combat-injured veterans by allowing concurrent receipt of retirement pay and VA disability. Currently, these disabled veterans are subject to a draconian offset where their retirement pay is reduced for every dollar of VA disability received. The American Legion calls upon Congress to end this unjust "tax" on America's disabled veterans and pass the Major Richard Star Act now,"saidAmerican Legion National Commander Paul E. Dillard