Bipartisan Legislation to Help Local Disabled Veteran Access Full Military Benefits 

Washington, D.C. – Congressmen Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-25) and Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) are working together on bipartisan legislation that would help military retirees access their full-earned benefits. Under current law, veterans with combat-related injuries qualify for medical retirement pay for their service from the Department of Defense and for disability compensation for injuries connected to their service from the Department of Veterans Affairs. However, for retired veterans with fewer than 20 years of service, their disability pay is deducted from their retirement pay. The Major Richard Star Act would repeal this unfair offset, allowing disabled veterans to receive both their retirement pay and their disability compensation.   

“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.” 

One veteran who would benefit from this legislation is a Hemet resident who served in the U.S. Navy for six and a half years. David suffered an injury during his service that now prevents him from standing for long periods of time, impacting his employment prospects. David now has a 40% disability rating from the VA, which is his sole income. He is one of at least 42,000 military retirees who would see a much-needed increase in their monthly VA benefits if the Major Richard Star were to be signed into law.  

“After putting our lives on the line to serve our nation, it’s not right that we have to choose between the retirement pay we’ve earned and the disability compensation we deserve,” said David, a Navy veteran from Hemet. “This legislation is long overdue. If signed into law, it would make a positive difference in my life and the lives of my fellow veterans.”  

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 tragically died from cancer on February 13, 2021. 

“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 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.” 

The Major Richard Star Act received strong backing from leading Veterans Service Organizations including the Military Coalition, Military Officer Association of America (MOAA), Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), and Disabled American Veterans (DAV). 

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