SR 285

UNOFFICIAL COPY  26 RS BR 2621
1A RESOLUTION recognizing the filing of the Major Richard Star Act, a bill
2 exploring an opportunity for veterans with disabilities to receive their full United States
3 Department of Defense retirement pay and United States Department of Veterans Affairs
4 disability compensation without offset.
5WHEREAS, the Major Richard Star Act (H.R. 2102, S. 1032) is proposed
6 bipartisan legislation in 119th Congress that seeks to amend federal law to expand
7 eligibility for concurrent receipt of disability compensation and retirement pay for
8 veterans; and
9WHEREAS, current federal law requires a dollar-for-dollar offset of disability
10 compensation and retirement pay for a veteran with a disability who was medically
11 retired with fewer than 20 years of service, denying them the full benefits they earned
12 through their service and sacrifice; and
13WHEREAS, approximately 50,000 veterans with disabilities, including those who
14 sustained combat-related injuries, are affected by this offset, resulting in significant
15 financial hardship, with an average loss of approximately $1,900 per month in earned
16 benefits based on 2022 estimates from the Congressional Budget Office; and
17WHEREAS, the Major Richard Star Act aims to allow an eligible veteran with a
18 disability to receive both his or her full United States Department of Defense retirement
19 pay and United States Department of Veterans Affairs disability compensation
20 concurrently; and
21WHEREAS, the bill has garnered significant bipartisan support in Congress with
22 substantial co-sponsorship in both the House of Representatives and the Senate; and
23WHEREAS, Kentucky is home to approximately 285,000 veterans, one of the
24 larger veteran populations in the nation, with many veterans with disabilities who have
25 served honorably and who are impacted by the current offset policy; and
26WHEREAS, more than 50 veterans' organizations, including the Wounded Warrior
27 Project, the American Legion, and AMVETS (American Veterans), have endorsed the
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 UNOFFICIAL COPY  26 RS BR 2621
1 Major Richard Star Act, highlighting its importance in the veteran community; and
2WHEREAS, Congress has a duty to care for veterans with disabilities by ensuring
3 they receive the support and benefits earned through their service; and
4WHEREAS, veterans with disabilities are advocating Congress for the elimination
5 of this offset, and expressing their concerns with the current policy; and
6WHEREAS, the Major Richard Star Act aims to honor and support all veterans,
7 including those in Kentucky, by ensuring they receive the full benefits they earned
8 through their service, regardless of their length of service; and
9WHEREAS, the General Assembly recognizes the importance of continued
10 conversations related to veterans with disabilities who have sacrificed for our nation;
11NOW, THEREFORE,
12 Be it resolved by the Senate of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of
13 Kentucky:
14Section 1.      The Senate hereby recognizes the filing of the Major Richard Star
15 Act (H.R. 2102, S. 1032) in the United States Congress, an effort to ensure veterans with
16 disabilities receive their full United States Department of Defense retirement pay and
17 United States Department of Veterans Affairs disability compensation without offset.
18Section 2.       The Clerk of the Senate is directed to transmit a copy of this
19 Resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, the Speaker of the
20 United States House of Representatives, the Majority Leader of the United States Senate,
21 members of the Kentucky congressional delegation, and to the sponsor and co-sponsors
22 of this Resolution for distribution.
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