The Major Richard Star Act has long been a priority for MOAA and remains a top legislative focus in the 119th Congress. Its adoption would eliminate an unjust pay offset, ensuring tens of thousands of combat-injured veterans can receive both service-earned DoD retirement pay and VA disability compensation.

MOAA expects the legislation to be reintroduced in the coming days. It is imperative for MOAA and its partner organizations to advocate on behalf of heroes like Maj. Richard Star, USAR, an Iraq and Afghanistan war veteran who lost his battle with lung cancer in 2021.

Star’s condition forced him into medical retirement. Servicemembers who retire before 20 years of service or have a 40% VA disability rating or lower were left behind two decades ago when Congress authorized concurrent receipt only for those who retired with 20 years or more of service and had a VA disability rating of 50% or more.

[MARCH 19 MOAA WEBINAR: Concurrent Receipt Programs]

Of the group left behind, our combat-injured veterans need this support the most as they regularly face compounding challenges from their injuries. These individuals, often seriously disabled, are subject to an offset where their retirement pay is reduced for every dollar of VA disability received. In some cases, their retirement pay is completely eliminated.  

Previous Actions

In prior sessions of Congress, MOAA played a leading role in uniting the broader military and veterans service organization (MSO/VSO) community to strengthen support for this critical legislation. Throughout numerous meetings with government stakeholders, MOAA maintained a consistent message to dispel misconceptions about this bill.

We have relayed to members of Congress and their staffs that:

• Retired pay is for completed years of service paid by DoD, while disability compensation is for lifelong injury paid by the VA. These are two different payments for two different purposes.  
  
  
• Reducing retired pay because of a disability is an injustice. 
  
  
• No other federal system would reduce retirement pay due to disability. 

These meetings have been complemented by other important actions meant to draw attention to this legislation. In addition to coordinating calls to action and constituent advocacy, MOAA helped lead a Star Act Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill last year.

[STAY INFORMED: MOAA’s Legislative Action Center]

Through these efforts, MOAA and its partners helped secure the support of a large majority of the 118th Congress, with 71 cosponsors in the Senate and 327 in the House. However, we were unable to make it across the finish line.

What’s Next

MOAA has maintained constant communication with our VSO partners since passage of the FY 2025 National Defense Authorization Act to prepare for the reintroduction of this bill. As part of the Star Act Working Group, a coalition of numerous organizations dedicated to advocating for this legislation, we have discussed timelines, outstanding concerns (notably cost), and possible paths forward.

Throughout these discussions, MOAA has been involved in strategic planning for advocacy efforts post-introduction. We will be ready to immediately work with Congress to garner support, allay misconceptions, and advocate on behalf of combat-injured veterans.

[RELATED: Tonya Star, Widow of Maj. Richard Star, Dies at 51]

Once the bill is reintroduced, MOAA will heighten its efforts to gain congressional support. We have discussed, along with the broader VSO community, a press conference to provide this bill with deserved attention. MOAA will also engage congressional offices and other officials to help secure the necessary support required.

We still believe cost represents the most pressing concern to those in opposition. However, as others have previously said, passing the Star Act is a cost of war. If the difficult decision is made to send servicemembers into battle, our nation must be prepared to take care of them when they return home.

Your Support

While much progress has been made, more work is needed. MOAA needs your help to provide for the thousands of combat-injured veterans who would benefit from the removal of this unjust offset; our work in the 119th Congress requires strong, steady engagement from MOAA members and partners.

Continued pressure from constituents is necessary to ensure lawmakers do not forget about our combat-injured veterans and their service to our nation.

We urge you to visit MOAA’s Legislative Action Center to keep track of all MOAA legislative priorities; shortly after the bill is reintroduced, Legislative Action Center members will be able to send a personalized message to their lawmakers in support of its passage.