Congressman Rogers Votes to Advance Major Richard Star Act

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Rep. Harold “Hal” Rogers (KY-05) voted for the Major Richard Star Act ( H.R. 2102 ), allowing eligible veterans with a combat-related disability to receive retirement pay without reducing disability compensation. The bill includes veterans with a combat-related disability and fewer than 20 years of creditable service. The late Army Major Richard Star was forced into early medical retirement before reaching 20 years of service. Star developed lung cancer linked to toxic exposure during deployments to the Middle East. His military retirement pay was reduced dollar for dollar by the amount of VA disability compensation he received. Star lost his battle with cancer in February 2020. The bill named in his memory eliminates that offset for nearly 60,000 veterans. “Our wounded American heroes deserve their maximum benefits, and they should not be penalized by a reduction in retirement pay. We honor the memory of Major Richard Star by ensuring other wounded warriors must no longer calculate for a loss of benefits when it’s time to retire. This fix has been long overdue, and I was proud to advance the bill out of the House on behalf of our veterans in southern and eastern Kentucky, and across the country," said Congressman Rogers, who is a veteran of the Kentucky National Guard. The Major Richard Starr Act overwhelmingly passed the House by a vote of 392-18. The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration. For more information about Congressman Rogers’ work in Washington and at home in Kentucky, visit halrogers.house.gov and follow him on social media.