By MOAA Staff

The House passed the standalone Major Richard Star Act by a bipartisan vote of 392-18 on Nov. 12, one day after approving the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act (TCAVA), a legislative package including several long-term MOAA priorities for veterans, caregivers, and survivors.

Both measures now move to the Senate, where lawmakers return Nov. 16 for their post-election session. The votes mark significant progress toward relief for combat-injured retirees and improvements to benefits and services for the broader military and veteran community. Senate passage remains necessary before either measure can become law.

[TAKE ACTION: Ask Your Senators to Support the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act]

A Broad Package of MOAA Priorities

The House passed TCAVA by voice vote on Veterans Day. The omnibus package brings together more than 60 pieces of legislation, most with bipartisan support. Among other improvements, the bill would provide:

• Relief for combat-injured retirees who face an unfair pay offset costing them a dollar of military retired pay for every dollar of VA disability compensation they receive.
  
  
• Expanded financial, educational, and career transition support for veteran caregivers via the Veteran Caregiver Reeducation, Reemployment, and Retirement (3R) Act.
  
  
• An end to the remarriage penalty faced by surviving spouses who currently lose Dependency and Indemnity Compensation and other benefits should they remarry before age 55.
  
  
• A range of improvements to the VA claims process; expanded support for rural and underserved veterans; mental health and suicide prevention programs; and VA modernization efforts.

Standalone Star Act Also Advances

The Nov. 12 vote on the Major Richard Star Act followed a successful discharge effort led by Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.), ranking member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee. This legislation would allow chapter 61 retirees eligible for Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) to receive full retirement pay alongside their VA disability compensation.

The standalone Star Act and the related provision in TCAVA differ in how they calculate payments. Some eligible retirees would receive the same amount under either approach, while others would receive more under the standalone bill.

MOAA continues to support passage of the standalone Star Act while advocating for the broader improvements for veterans, caregivers, and survivors included in TCAVA.

Senate Action Needed

With both measures through the House, the Senate now has an opportunity to advance these long-sought priorities before the 119th Congress ends. Neither House vote changes current benefits, as legislation must pass both chambers in identical form and be signed into law by the president before enactment.

MOAA urges senators to act before the end of the year to deliver meaningful relief for combat-injured retirees and to strengthen support for veterans, caregivers, and survivors.

Keep up with the latest on these issues and others, and on calls to action throughout the end of the 119th Congress, by signing up at MOAA’s Legislative Action Center.