Courtney Votes for Final Passage of the Major Richard Star Act, Sends Bill to the Senate

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Joe Courtney (CT-02) voted for final passage of the Major Richard Star Act (H.R. 2102). The bill passed the House by a vote of 392-18 and now heads to the Senate. The Major Richard Star Act would fix an injustice in the law that currently diminishes earned retirement benefits for veteran retirees who also collect service-connected disability benefits. Courtney and a bipartisan coalition successfully forced today's vote via a discharge petition, which Courtney signed earlier this year.

"All of us have a duty, particularly here in Congress, to provide support for veterans - real tangible support in terms of health care and financial services," Courtney said. "By finally passing the Major Richard Star Act, a bipartisan coalition just took a major step to follow through on that mission. This bill ends one of the greatest injustices in the Veterans Administration system that denies medically retired veterans the full scope of their earned retirement benefits. I urge the Senate to swiftly pass the Major Richard Star Act and send it to be signed into law."

Currently, combat-injured veterans who were forced into medical retirement are only able to receive either U.S. Department of Defense retirement benefits or U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs disability compensation. The Major Richard Star Act would amend the law to allow these medically retired veterans to receive both their full retirement pay and disability compensation.

On Monday, in a speech on the House floor, Courtney called on his colleagues to pass the Major Richard Star Act. To watch and download Courtney's full speech, click here.

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