Washington, D.C, District of Columbia Jan 1, 2026 (Issuewire.com) - Wounded veterans and major national veterans organizations have unified behind a single, targeted fix in federal law, stating that the only remaining barrier to enactment of the Major Richard Star Act is action by the United States Senate.
The Major Richard Star Act would end a retirement offset affecting approximately 54,000 combat-injured, medically retired veterans. Under current law, many of these veterans see their Department of Defense retired pay reduced dollar-for-dollar by the amount of VA disability compensation they receive, often eliminating their earned retirement pay entirely.
“Veterans service organizations have been asking Congress to fix this for years,” said Senior Chief Shane Junkert, USN (Ret.), a decorated combat veteran and advocate with 54KVeterans.org. “There is no division among veterans or VSOs on this issue. The only unresolved question is when the Senate will allow a vote.”
A Narrow Fix, Not a New Benefit
Advocates emphasize that the Major Richard Star Act applies only to a specific group: veterans medically retired under Chapter 61 due to combat-related injuries who did not reach 20 years of service. The legislation does not alter VA disability ratings, reduce benefits, or create a new entitlement.
Instead, the bill would allow eligible combat-injured medical retirees to receive both the military retired pay they earned through service and the VA disability compensation awarded for their injuries. Veterans who complete 20 years of service already receive both benefits under existing concurrent receipt law.
“Retired pay compensates service. Disability compensation addresses injury,” Junkert said. “They are established under different laws for different purposes. Treating them as the same has penalized the very veterans Congress says it wants to support.”
Broad Support Among Veterans Organizations
Major national veterans organizations — including The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), and Disabled American Veterans (DAV) — have consistently supported the Major Richard Star Act, describing the retirement offset as an inequity affecting combat-injured retirees.
Advocates say the alignment between VSOs and grassroots veterans is unusually strong, with no competing proposals or policy disputes surrounding the fix.
Veterans Funding Advocacy Efforts
In the absence of Senate action, groups of combat-injured veterans have begun funding advocacy efforts themselves. Through PassTheAct.org, small donations from veterans and their families have paid for billboards and public awareness campaigns, including in Mississippi, identifying the procedural block preventing a vote.
A national petition at Change.org/54KVeterans has also collected signatures from veterans and families across the country calling on Congress to pass the legislation.
“These are veterans who already lost part of their income to this rule,” Junkert said. “Despite that, they are contributing what they can to make sure the issue is not ignored.”
Legislative Status and Path Forward
On October 8, 2025, Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi objected to advancing the Major Richard Star Act by unanimous consent, preventing a recorded Senate vote. Senator Wicker has previously cited procedural concerns regarding the bill. Requests for comment from his office regarding the current amendment were not returned by publication time.
On December 16, 2025, Senator Richard Blumenthal filed S.Amdt. 4056, which would attach the Major Richard Star Act to defense appropriations legislation. Supporters argue the amendment provides a clear path to bypass the procedural objection and require an on-the-record Senate decision.
“S.Amdt. 4056 puts the issue where it belongs — before the full Senate,” Junkert said. “It will show whether senators stand with combat-injured retirees or with continued delay.”
About 54KVeterans.org
54KVeterans.org is a grassroots coalition of combat-injured veterans advocating for passage of the Major Richard Star Act. The organization is led by Senior Chief Shane Junkert, USN (Ret.), a decorated combat veteran who completed six deployments during 18.5 years of service before being medically retired due to combat-related injuries. The coalition represents approximately 54,000 veterans nationwide affected by the Chapter 61 retirement offset.
Media Contact
54K Veterans Shane@54Kveterans.org 817-771-3577 http://54KVeterans.org
