Disabled veterans are currently unable to receive both their full retirement pay and disability benefits due to a policy known as the “Wounded Veteran Tax.” The Major Richard Star Act, now before the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, aims to address this issue by allowing certain qualified veterans to receive both payments concurrently.
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM Union), which has many members who have served in the military, is supporting the bill. The legislation also has backing from several national veterans organizations, including Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), The American Legion, and Disabled American Veterans (DAV).
Under current law, retirement pay for combat-injured, medically retired veterans is reduced by the amount they receive in service-connected disability compensation. The proposed legislation would remove this offset for eligible veterans.
“On behalf of the 600,000 active and retired members of IAM Union, I want to thank the bipartisan group of U.S. Senators and members of the U.S. House of Representatives for supporting this very important piece of legislation that is intended to improve the lives of those who have sacrificed so much for this country,” said IAM Union International President Brian Bryant. “The IAM is a diverse labor union with a very significant number of veterans in our membership. We will always fight for the rights of our veterans. The House and the Senate must pass the Major Richard Star Act to end the unjust offset that penalizes combat-injured veterans by denying them the full benefits they have earned.”
Supporters are encouraging individuals to contact their legislators to express support for passing the Major Richard Star Act.
