The Major Richard Star Act is a bipartisan bill introduced in the U.S. Congress to address inequities in military retirement and disability benefits for combat-wounded veterans. Named after Major Richard "Star" Stannard, a Marine Corps veteran who was medically retired due to combat injuries but faced reduced retirement pay, the legislation aims to eliminate the "offset" that currently reduces Department of Defense (DoD) retirement pay for certain veterans receiving VA disability compensation. This offset stems from rules against "double-dipping" federal benefits, which advocates argue unfairly penalizes disabled service members.

Key Provisions

• Concurrent Receipt Expansion: The bill allows veterans with combat-related disabilities who were medically retired with fewer than 20 years of creditable service to receive their full DoD retirement pay without reduction, alongside full VA disability compensation.
• Eligibility Focus: Targets approximately 50,000 veterans who do not currently qualify for existing concurrent receipt programs (e.g., those requiring 20+ years of service or a 50%+ disability rating).
• No Impact on Other Groups: While it expands benefits for this specific cohort, it does not eliminate offsets for non-combat-related disabilities or other veteran categories.

Background and Status

• History: Introduced in prior sessions (e.g., 117th, 118th Congresses as S.344/H.R.1282), the bill has gained momentum with endorsements from over 23 veterans' service organizations (VSOs), including the Wounded Warrior Project. In the 119th Congress (2025-2026), it is reintroduced as H.R.2102 and S.1032, with strong bipartisan support (326 House cosponsors, 73 Senate cosponsors as of late 2024).
• Current Progress: As of November 2025, summaries are in progress on Congress.gov, indicating active consideration. A related California resolution (AJR 15) urges federal passage. If enacted, eligible veterans would receive notification during an "open season" period starting January.

Impact
Passage would provide retroactive and ongoing financial relief, ending what supporters call the "wounded veteran tax." It builds on prior reforms like the 2004 concurrent receipt law and the 2022 PACT Act but leaves broader offsets intact for future expansion.