SCR 70

2026 Regular Session  ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 70
BY SENATOR CLOUD AND REPRESENTATIVE OWEN
  A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
To memorialize the Congress of the United States and the administration of United States
       President Donald Trump to take such actions as are necessary to pass the Major
       Richard Star Act to ensure that combat-wounded, medically retired service members
       receive full military entitlements.
       WHEREAS, the law currently prohibits approximately fifty thousand combat-
wounded, medically retired service members from receiving, concurrently, a full military
retirement pay and disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs; and
       WHEREAS, this prohibition results in a dollar-for-dollar offset, denying veterans full
earned benefits despite the many sacrifices made in service to our great nation; and
       WHEREAS, Richard Star was a decorated United States Army Major who served on
the front line in Iraq and Afghanistan, suffered serious combat-related injuries leading to a
medical retirement, and tragically passed away from lung cancer in 2021; and
       WHEREAS, upon his death, the family of Major Richard Star loss significant
retirement benefits as a direct result of the unjust dollar-for-dollar offset; and
       WHEREAS, support of the Major Richard Star Act includes six members of the
Louisiana congressional delegation: Representatives Julia Letlow (R-LA-5), Troy A. Carter
(D-LA-2), Cleo Fields (D-LA-6), and Clay Higgins (R-LA-3) in the House of
Representatives, and Senators John Kennedy (R-LA) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) in the United
States Senate; and
       WHEREAS, the Major Richard Star Act, reintroduced in the 119th Congress as
H.R.2101 in the House of Representatives and S.1032 in the Senate, would eliminate the
offset for veterans with combat-related disabilities and allow service members to receive,
without reduction, both the earned retirement pay from the Department of Defense and a
disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs; and
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SCR NO. 70  ENROLLED
       WHEREAS, H.R.2102, sponsored by Representative Gus M. Bilirakis (R-FL),
currently has three hundred fourteen cosponsors in the United States House of
Representatives, and S.1032, sponsored by Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), has
seventy-seven cosponsors in the United States Senate, demonstrating strong bipartisan
support; and
       WHEREAS, despite widespread bipartisan support and the introduction of the
legislation in March 2025, the Major Richard Star Act remains stalled in committee as of
February 2026, with no floor vote or further action taken; and
       WHEREAS, the Legislature of Louisiana is deeply disappointed that the United
States Congress has failed to enact the Major Richard Star Act, thereby neglecting to
properly care for our combat-injured veterans who have sacrificed so much for our freedom
and security; and
       WHEREAS, passing the Major Richard Star Act is essential to honor the promises
made to our military veterans and ensure that proper entitlements and the full benefits
earned, through member service and sacrifice, are received.
       THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana memorializes
the Congress of the United States and the administration of United States President Donald
Trump to take such actions as are necessary to pass the Major Richard Star Act (H.R.2102
and S.l032) to ensure that combat wounded, medically retired service members receive
proper military entitlements.
       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution shall be transmitted
to the president of the United States, the secretary of the United States Senate, the clerk of
the House of Representatives, and each member of the Louisiana delegation to the United
States Congress in recognition of the urgent need to support our nation's combat-wounded,
medically retired service members.
  PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
  SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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