Bilirakis Praises Significant Progress in Advancing Major Richard Star Act

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), who currently serves as Advisor to the House Speaker on Veterans Affairs issues and is the lead House sponsor of the Major Richard Star Act, today praised the inclusion of the legislation into a newly filed, comprehensive and fully-funded Veterans priority and is expected to advance through Congress in the coming weeks. The package contains dozens of bipartisan measures designed to strengthen Veterans' benefits, expand access to health care, improve educational opportunities, support military families and survivors, modernize the Department of Veterans Affairs, and preserve critical community care options for those who have served our Nation. One of the cornerstone provisions is Bilirakis's Major Richard Star Act, which would finally allow combat-injured military retirees with fewer than 20 years of service to receive both their full Department of Defense retirement pay and their full VA disability compensation without offset.

"For years, Veterans, military families, and advocates have worked tirelessly to correct this longstanding injustice," said Congressman Bilirakis. "The inclusion of the Major Richard Star Act in this fully-funded package represents a major step toward finally delivering the full benefits that combat-injured Veterans have earned through their service and sacrifice."

The legislation is named in honor of Major Richard Star, a decorated Army officer who was medically retired following combat-related injuries sustained during his service in Afghanistan. Major Star became a leading advocate for ending the unfair offset before passing away in 2021 after a battle with cancer.

"Major Richard Star's legacy continues to inspire all of us who are committed to keeping our promises to America's Veterans," Bilirakis continued. "This package demonstrates what can be accomplished when Congress focuses on results instead of rhetoric. Most importantly, it provides a realistic and fully funded path to enactment. Veterans deserve more than symbolic victories-they deserve laws that reach the President's desk and improve their lives. I remain committed to working with my colleagues in both chambers to ensure the Major Richard Star Act and these other critical reforms become law. I am grateful to House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Bost, House Speaker Mike Johnson, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, and the many Veterans Service Organizations that have fought alongside us to find the funding that is needed to get this long-overdue bill across the finish line."

"I want to thank Representative Gus Bilirakis and the other members of the Congress who have come together to deliver this bipartisan bill for our combat disabled veterans. This bill is named after my late brother Major Richard Star. Richard spent 32 years serving this country as a career Army Reservist. He deployed 9 different times to combat zones. After Richard was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer (linked to burn pit exposure while deployed) he was forced to retire with 19 and 1/2 years total active duty time. Despite 9 deployments (and 32 years total service) my brother was denied his earned retirement. Richard worked tirelessly with MOAA to end this unjust offset and dollar for dollar reduction. My family and I are deeply grateful for this renewed opportunity to honor my brother's legacy and preserve his memory by ensuring his fellow Wounded Warriors receive their earned retirement," said David Star.

"Over the past few months, we have heard from the thousands veteran voices who want to see Congress pass the Major Richard Star Act to grant thousands of disabled veterans the benefits they are eligible for. Today, I am proud to announce that we have found a path forward for this bill to get it across the finish line, in addition to over 60 bipartisan bills to protect healthcare access, cut out the red tape in the VA disability benefits system, advance economic opportunities, and put veterans - not government bureaucracy - back at the center of VA's mission - for good,"said Chairman Bost. "I want to thank my friend, Rep. Gus Bilirakis, for his work on the Major Richard Star Act on behalf of the thousands of combat-wounded veterans this bill would benefit, and I am glad to see it included in our sweeping veterans' package this year. Let's get it done."