Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Jan 1, 2026 (Issuewire.com) - Combat-injured veterans in Pennsylvania are losing more than $1.4 million in earned military retirement pay every month because Congress has yet to fix a long-standing federal retirement offset affecting medically retired service members.
Advocates warn that progress on the Major Richard Star Act has stalled in the U.S. Senate following an objection during floor consideration, leaving thousands of Pennsylvania families to absorb the financial impact.
Media Coverage Highlights Senate Objection
The stalled legislation has drawn national attention. A recent WTVA9 News report detailed the objection by Senator Roger Wicker, which blocked the bill’s passage. The coverage also highlighted a billboard campaign by PassTheAct.org aimed at raising awareness about the delay in allowing a vote.
Veteran Voices: The Human Impact
Senior Chief Shane Junkert, USN (Ret.), a decorated combat veteran with six deployments and 18.5 years of service, shared his frustration:
“Senator Dave McCormick is a former paratrooper who knows exactly what it means to jump into a fight. But right now, the government is stealing $17.8 million a year from the very people he served alongside. As a fellow combat veteran, I expect him to stop the theft, not watch it happen.”
The Scope of the Loss in Pennsylvania
According to veteran advocacy groups, 1,239 combat-injured, medically retired veterans in Pennsylvania are affected by the offset the Major Star Act is designed to eliminate. With an average loss of $1,200 per household per month, these veterans are losing an estimated $1,486,800 monthly—or over $17.8 million annually.
On a weekly basis, that amounts to roughly $300 per household, money typically used for groceries, fuel, prescriptions, utilities, rent, or school expenses.
“This is $300 a week that should be circulating in Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia,” Junkert said. “Instead, it is being confiscated by Washington. For a freshman senator looking to make a mark, there is no clearer mission than restoring $17 million to constituents’ pockets.”
Pennsylvania’s Vital Role in National Defense
Pennsylvania has a rich military heritage, from Carlisle Barracks, which trains the Army’s senior leaders, to the Tobyhanna Army Depot, which provides critical electronics support. The Pennsylvania National Guard is one of the most deployed guard units in the nation.
Many veterans affected by the offset trained, deployed, or served through these Pennsylvania installations before returning home with combat injuries that ended their military careers.
“Pennsylvania veterans defended this country’s bottom line with their lives,” Junkert said. “It is unacceptable that when they come home injured, their retirement is treated like a budget line item that can be deleted to save money.”
Understanding the Offset
The Major Star Act applies to veterans medically retired under Chapter 61 due to combat injuries who did not reach 20 years of service. While legally considered military retirees, many see their Department of Defense retirement pay reduced to zero due to current law.
Under the existing system, these veterans must waive retired pay dollar-for-dollar when they receive VA disability compensation. The VA payment replaces—rather than supplements—the retirement pay they earned.
“You cannot thank a veteran for their service with one hand and confiscate their retirement check with the other,” Junkert said. “Retired pay is for the work they did. Disability pay is for the permanent damage to their health. Merging the two is an accounting trick that hurts real people.”
The Major Star Act does not create a new benefit or expand VA eligibility. It simply allows combat-injured medical retirees to receive both forms of compensation, aligning their treatment with that of many other military retirees.
Senate Action and Next Steps
In December 2025, Senator Richard Blumenthal filed S.Amdt. 4056, proposing to attach the Major Star Act to a must-pass defense funding bill. Supporters say the amendment would force a recorded vote, advancing the legislation toward resolution.
“S.Amdt. 4056 is where every senator—including Senators McCormick and Fetterman—must decide where they stand,” Junkert said. “Supporting it restores $1.4 million a month to Pennsylvania families. Silence just keeps sending the bill to the veterans.”
A Question for Pennsylvania’s Senators
“If you represent Pennsylvania, you know there are 1,239 combat-injured retirees living with this offset,” Junkert said. “Why is the delegation allowing a single objection from Mississippi to strip $17.8 million a year from the Pennsylvania economy? It is time to go on the record.”
About 54KVeterans.org
54KVeterans.org is a grassroots coalition of combat-injured veterans dedicated to passing the Major Richard Star Act. Led by Senior Chief Shane Junkert, USN (Ret.), the coalition advocates on behalf of approximately 54,000 veterans nationwide affected by the Chapter 61 retirement offset.
Media Contact
54k Veterans Shane@54Kveterans.org 817-771-3577 Barrigada, 489 Army Drive box 24130 http://54KVeterans.org
