Sinema-backed Major Richard Star Act allows combat-injured veterans to receive both disability compensation and retirement pay
WASHINGTON – Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema cosponsored the bipartisan Major Richard Star Act—legislation ensuring combat-injured Arizona veterans receive their full military benefits, including both disability compensation and retired pay.
“We’re ensuring Arizona veterans who’ve sacrificed so much to keep us safe and secure receive the full benefits they’ve earned,” said Sinema, a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee.
Currently, 42,000 military retirees with combat-related injuries qualify for retirement pay for their service from the Department of Defense and for disability compensation for injuries acquired in combat from the Department of Veterans Affairs. However, for retired veterans with less than 20 years of service, their disability pay is deducted from their retirement pay. The Sinema-backed Major Richard Star Act rights this wrong, allowing disabled veterans to receive both their retirement pay and their disability compensation.
The bill is named in honor of Major Richard A. Star—a 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 Major Richard Star Act is supported by the Military Coalition, Military Officer Association of America (MOAA), Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), and Disabled American Veterans (DAV).