Major Richard Star Act

This Arizona state memorial (HCM 2017) requests Congress pass the Major Richard Star Act to address a policy that denies combat-injured veterans who were medically retired before 20 years of service their full military retirement pay. The bill seeks to end the "wounded veteran tax," where retirement pay is offset dollar-for-dollar by VA disability compensation, affecting approximately 1,172 Arizona veterans who lose about $1,200 monthly ($16.9 million annually in lost income). The legislation would allow these veterans to receive both their earned retirement pay and disability compensation simultaneously, aligning with existing policy for other disabled retirees. It is supported by bipartisan Arizona congressional members and aims to improve financial stability for affected veterans and their families.