Lafayette Reporter

Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana has collaborated with Senators Mike Crapo, Richard Blumenthal, and others to reintroduce the Major Richard Star Act. This bipartisan legislation aims to allow combat-injured veterans with less than 20 years of service to receive full retirement benefits concurrently with their disability compensation.

Kennedy emphasized the importance of this initiative by stating, "Our veterans made heroic sacrifices to protect our nation. I’m proud to help introduce the Major Richard Star Act to make sure that Louisiana’s and America’s brave veterans are able to receive retirement benefits and disability compensation."

Under current regulations, only veterans who have served over 20 years and have a disability rating of 50% or more are eligible for concurrent Department of Defense retirement and Department of Veterans Affairs disability payments.

The bill is named after Major Richard Star, a decorated war veteran who retired due to combat-related injuries and passed away from cancer in 2021.

A wide array of senators from both parties have shown support by cosponsoring the bill. These include Elizabeth Warren, Rick Scott, Michael Bennet, Cory Booker, John Boozman, Katie Britt, Shelley Moore Capito, John Cornyn, Catherine Cortez Masto, Tom Cotton, Kevin Cramer, Ted Cruz, Steve Daines, Tammy Duckworth, Dick Durbin, John Fetterman, Kirsten Gillibrand, Maggie Hassan, John Hickenlooper, Cindy Hyde-Smith, Jim Justice, Mark Kelly, Andy Kim, Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), James Risch (R-Idaho), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Raphael Warnock.

Further details on the bill can be accessed through its full text.