More than 50,000 combat-injured veterans would benefit from long-sought changes to unjust compensation practices if an amendment to the FY 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) becomes part of the must-pass legislation.

The text of the Major Richard Star Act (H.R. 1282/S. 344) was submitted as NDAA Amendment No. 98 by Reps. Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.) and Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.) along with 29 other members of Congress. There is a very short window this week for your representative to sign onto the amendment and support combat-injured veterans.

[TAKE ACTION: Ask Your House Member to Sign Onto the Star Act NDAA Amendments]

The amendment would provide over 50,300 combat-injured veterans with concurrent receipt of vested retirement pay and VA disability. At present, these veterans lose a dollar of retirement pay for every dollar of VA disability received.

These are two different payments for two different purposes. To reduce retirement pay because of a disability is an injustice, and MOAA will continue to build support for this long-term campaign to ensure concurrent receipt for all who’ve earned it.

In 2004, Congress authorized DoD retirement pay for vested years of service and VA disability compensation for those with 20 or more years of service and a 50% or greater VA disability rating. Unfortunately, this left those injured in combat behind – an oversight the Star Act would correct.

Make Your Voice Heard

Engagement from MOAA members and The Military Coalition (TMC) – a group of military and veterans organizations with a combined membership of nearly 5.5 million members of the uniformed services community – continues to make a big impact on support for the Star Act, which recently reached 255 co-sponsors in the House and 59 in the Senate.

[MOAA RESOURCES: Concurrent Receipt]

The bill was one of three focus areas in MOAA’s 2022 spring advocacy campaign, resulting in thousands of letters from MOAA members reaching members of Congress.

Another advocacy push is critical to build significant co-sponsors for Amendment No. 98 and influence the Rules Committee’s decision on whether the amendment will be found “in order” and can proceed to the House floor for a vote.

Reach out to your House member today and ask them to join the expanding ranks supporting the inclusion of the Major Richard Star Act in the NDAA.