The Major Richard Star Act
Today's veterans are penalized financially for the very injuries they sustained in service
For the last 250 years, America’s veterans have put their lives on the line to preserve and protect the way of life that we hold so near and dear to our hearts. However, instead of rewarding them for their sacrifices, today veterans are quietly subjected to a policy that does the opposite: these men and women are penalized financially for the very injuries they sustained in service. The Major Richard Star Act would fix this problem.
“The American Legion strongly supports the latest effort to eliminate the unjust offset that penalizes thousands of combat-injured veterans.
This long-overdue reform—backed by The American Legion and more than 60 other military and veteran organizations—would ensure that combat-injured retirees can receive both their Department of Defense retirement pay and the disability compensation earned through their sacrifices. Current law reduces retirement pay by the exact amount of VA disability compensation received, a policy that punishes wounded veterans for their service and injury. We call this what it is: a “wounded veteran tax,” and it must end.”
The history of this problem is complicated. Initially, Congress wanted to ensure that veterans would not receive two forms of federal pay for the same period of service (retirement pay and disability compensation, respectively). This concept makes sense on paper, but severely backfired in reality. Reform is necessary.
“The standalone bill has overwhelming bipartisan support, with 313 cosponsors in the House and 77 in the Senate as of January 2026—more than enough to pass if brought to a floor vote.
The American Legion urges Congress to do right by our nation’s combat-wounded heroes and pass this amendment without delay. These veterans have already paid more than their fair share.”
This common sense legislation would represent an obvious improvement to our nation. However, its delay highlights a more fundamental issue within our legislative politics - intense polarization and fiscal constraints make new laws like this harder and harder to sign into law. The Act would cost several billion dollars over the next decade, which would add even more strain to the nation’s historically large national debt. It also has not been prioritized by congressional leadership: a sad but true reality of DC politics. However, inaction is not worth the cost. The result is that these veterans, unlike many of their non-disabled or non-combat counterparts, are denied the full benefits they have rightfully earned. It is only right that United States veterans should be protected from this tragic legal injustice. Congress should put partisan politics to the side and do the right thing: Pass the Major Richard Star Act.