[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 193 (Tuesday, December 13, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H9697-H9698]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     CONTINUED DELAY OF FLOOR ACTION ON THE MAJOR RICHARD STAR ACT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I must take 
the

[[Page H9698]]

floor in frustration regarding the continued delay of floor action on 
the Major Richard Star Act.
  H.R. 1282 would expand eligibility to certain military retirees for 
concurrent receipt of veterans' disability compensation and retired pay 
or combat-related special compensation.
  In the past, military servicemembers found to have endured a service-
connected disability could not collect their pension and disability pay 
in unison. This was unfair.
  To receive VA disability compensation, veterans had to forfeit their 
retirement benefits and pay back dollar-for-dollar the amount that 
would have been owed to them if they had received both benefits.
  In the fiscal year 2004 National Defense Authorization Act, Congress 
created the Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay program. In doing 
so, veterans who are 100 percent disabled were authorized to receive 
both earned benefits--which is right--known as concurrent receipt, for 
the first time ever.
  Since then, the law has expanded the eligibility to receive military 
retirement pay and their VA disability pay concurrently to military 
retirees with 20 or more years of service and a 50 percent or higher 
disability rating.
  Under current law, concurrent receipt for military retirees who have 
a disability rating of 50 percent or higher was phased in through 2014.
  While that certainly marked tremendous progress, medically retired 
veterans with less than 20 years of service who were wounded in combat 
must still offset their DOD retirement pay by their VA disability 
compensation. So unfair. So unjust.
  Many of these veterans had the full intention of serving 20 or more 
years and gain full retirement benefits, but through no fault of their 
own, were unable to due to their service and sacrifice in the line of 
duty. They were injured.
  This group of retired veterans, also known as Chapter 61 retirees, 
are arguably the most at-risk because of their complex combat injuries 
and are just as deserving as those who served greater than 20 years of 
service.
  By creating the CRDP, I firmly believe that Congress admitted that 
the offset required of disabled veterans was wrong. Approximately 
550,000 military retirees are eligible to receive both military retired 
pay and VA disability compensation but are prohibited under the current 
guidelines of this program. We must change that.
  In my view, I see these veterans as essentially being taxed for their 
service and sacrifice because they were deemed service-connected 
disabled. What an injustice that we must correct.
  This is a very popular and desired policy fix, Mr. Speaker. The 
Richard Star Act has 335 cosponsors in the House and 66, and growing, 
in the United States Senate. Most veteran service organizations, 
including the American Legion, the VFW, DAV, VVA, which is the Vietnam 
Veterans of America, AMVETS, Military Officers Association of America, 
Fleet Reserve Association, American Ex-Prisoners of War, and the 
Association of the Navy, strongly support this bill.
  Given this support, why hasn't there been any action on this bill? 
The Richard Star Act got the required cosponsors necessary to get added 
to the Consensus Calendar back in September, but why has there been no 
action on this bill?
  These are not just questions I have--it is not just me--but the 
cosponsors of the bill as well, and questions that many in the public 
have, including our heroes and their families that were affected.
  Let's ask the Democratic leadership in the House and the Senate to 
consider the overwhelming public and congressional support for the 
Richard Star Act. Do not let this injustice continue. Please do not let 
this injustice continue.
  We have a real opportunity, Mr. Speaker. Do right by these national 
heroes and include the Major Richard Star Act in the end-of-year 
omnibus. I can't think of a more worthy cause than honoring our 
commitment to our Nation's heroes.

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