Latest news with #MajorRichardStarAct
NBC News
26-05-2025
- Health
- NBC News
A double amputee who served in Iraq is pushing lawmakers to end the 'wounded veterans tax'
WASHINGTON — When Army veteran Dan Nevins was forced to medically retire from the military after losing both his legs in combat, he thought he'd be financially taken care of by the country that he served. But Nevins soon discovered the so-called 'wounded veterans tax' — an unofficial term for a federal policy that prohibits certain injured veterans from receiving both their full retirement pay and disability compensation. 'I was told I could not receive both,' Nevins told NBC News in an interview. 'And I was like, 'Wait a minute. That's not what I thought was going to happen.'' It's an issue that affects around 50,000 veterans, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, costing them each about $1,900 per month. Under current federal policy, veterans who have less than 20 years of service and a disability rating under 50% get a dollar taken out of their retirement for every dollar they receive in disability compensation. The disability rating is assigned by the Veterans Affairs Department and assesses how much an injury or disability may impact a veteran's health and ability to function. And now, Nevins is pushing lawmakers in Washington to change that. In 2004, when Nevins was deployed to Iraq as a squad leader, an improvised explosive device detonated beneath his vehicle. The blast killed his platoon sergeant, and eventually both of Nevins legs would be amputated below the knee because of the injuries he sustained. 'People say when you're about to die your life flashes before your eyes. That wasn't really my experience. It was more like a slideshow of things left undone,' said Nevins, who still wears a bracelet every day to honor his platoon sergeant. 'The last sort of vision, it was my 10-year-old daughter, but she was all grown up and dressed in white head to toe, and walking down the aisle without her dad. And I was like, 'I'm alive. I have to do something to keep it that way.'' After a painful and lengthy recovery process, which included 36 surgeries and an 18-month stay at Walter Reed Hospital, Nevins started to live his life again. That included learning some new skills, such as becoming a certified yoga instructor. But because of his injuries, Nevins left the military earlier than anticipated. That is when, to his surprise, Nevins learned that he would not be receiving his full retirement pay. 'It's a tragedy really,' Nevins said. 'So many people are cutting what we would all take for granted out of their lives, just so they can survive. And I mean, it's not a ton of money, but it will help and really change lives and families for the better.' Congress is making a renewed push to eliminate the offset with a bipartisan bill, dubbed the Major Richard Star Act, that would give wounded veterans their full retirement benefits and disability pay. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., is spearheading the effort in the Senate, where it has 71 co-sponsors, while Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., is leading the bill in the House, where it has 274 co-sponsors. 'Veterans are retired early because of the wounds and the injuries they receive, and they're entitled to disability compensation for them, but then their retirement pay is reduced dollar for dollar because of that disability compensation,' Blumenthal told NBC News. 'They're being penalized for being wounded. ... It's about simple justice and fairness.' But the bill is costly: The CBO estimated in 2022 that the legislation would have cost $9.75 billion from 2024 to 2033. And at a time when the Trump administration is looking to trim government spending — including at the Veterans Affairs Department — cost concerns could stand in the way of passage. A spokesman for the VA said it does not typically comment on pending legislation, but vowed that no health care or benefits for veterans will be cut. The Department of Defense did not return a request for comment. Blumenthal said he sees 'a number of paths' for the bill. He plans to offer it as an amendment to an annual defense policy bill later this year. And in the coming weeks, Blumenthal is going to try to bring it up under unanimous consent and 'see who has the nerve to come forward and say we should deny our veterans basic fairness.' Ahead of Memorial Day, Nevins traveled to Washington to advocate for the bill. He appeared at a press conference alongside Marine Corps veteran Jamel Daniels, who also lost his leg in combat. The two got to know each other during their respective recoveries and even did wheelchair races in the hospital hallways, according to Nevins. Now, Nevins and Daniels are fighting for a legislative fix in the halls of the Capitol. And Nevins says his message to Congress is simple: honor the country's commitment to veterans. 'We should keep our promises,' Nevins said. 'I teach my kids to keep their promises, even when it's not convenient for them.'
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lingering cost worries cloud plans for veterans disability reform bill
After years of hearing cost complaints from lawmakers, advocates believe they have finally reached a funding solution for their major disability reform plan, providing thousands of dollars a year to 54,000-plus wounded veterans nationwide. Actually, they think the White House found the answer for them. 'In March, Veterans Affairs leaders announced contract terminations that could save almost $1 billion,' said Patrick Murray, a disabled veteran and former Veterans of Foreign Wars senior leader during a Capitol Hill press conference on Wednesday. 'In April, the Defense Department announced they eliminated nearly $6 billion in wasteful spending for their budget. 'So it looks like our money has been found. [Defense Secretary] Pete Hegseth and [VA Secretary] Doug Collins have both expressed the importance of focusing on what the warfighter and veteran have earned, and this bill is a perfect example of where those dollars should go.' Murray's comments came during a rally urging passage of the Major Richard Star Act, legislation that has been a key priority of numerous national veterans advocacy groups for the last several years. Advocates push for Congress to move long-stalled vets benefits fix The bill boasts more than 70 supporters in the Senate and more than 200 in the House, but funding issues have derailed legislative momentum in recent years. Wednesday's event was a mix of optimism and frustration from participants, who said they hope to end the annual rally this congressional session. 'We're going to get this done,' said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., ranking member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee. 'I'm going to offer it as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act next month. If we don't get that, we can make it a stand-alone bill. One way or another, we have to do this.' Named for an Army veteran who died from cancer complications in 2021, the Major Richard Star Act deals with how veterans' disability benefits are classified under federal statute. Since 2004, veterans who collect both military retirement after 20 years of service and veterans disability benefits receive both stipends in full if they have a disability rating of at least 50%. The combined total of the two benefits can amount to several thousand dollars each month. But under federal rules, veterans forced to retire early from the service because of military injuries are subject to dollar-for-dollar offsets in their military disability and VA disability benefits. That means that officials subtract several hundred or several thousand dollars each month from what individuals could potentially receive, leaving a gap in their income. For some veterans who spoke at Wednesday's rally, the years of lost income total hundreds of thousands of dollars. 'This is a wounded veteran tax, and we have to fix this policy that unfairly penalizes veterans forced to retire as a result of their injuries,' said Jose Ramos, vice president of government and community relations at the Wounded Warrior Project. 'There is no good reason why veterans from across the country are here again to ask for this.' The legislation is estimated to cost up to $9 billion over the next decade, a number which advocates have disputed as too high. But they also argued that recent work to find federal contract and program savings more than covers that anticipated expense, arguing that redirecting those funds to the benefits checks would ensure the money is put to good use. That's unlikely, given that defense and VA leaders have said they plan to use those savings for existing department priorities. The contract cuts themselves have been controversial, with lawmakers like Blumenthal lamenting a lack of transparency in what services have been cancelled and whether the long-term promises of savings are realistic. Congressional appropriators are expected to spend the next few months debating the scope of the savings and their future use as part of the fiscal 2026 budget process. But advocates hope that highlighting the bureaucratic efficiency work will help spur movement on the Star Act, showing that a solution to the remaining legislative barriers isn't far away. 'Every year, it feels like we get close, but then the football gets pulled away at the last moment,' said Jack Du Teil, president of The Military Coalition. 'We need to dig deeper and fix this.'
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
NM officials tout support for veterans
Veterans protested at the New Mexico Roundhouse on March 14, 2025 New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez on Thursday announced the state has joined 50 other attorneys general in an amicus brief before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims in support of U.S. Army veteran Lieutenant Colonel Paul Yoon and U.S. Air Force veteran Colonel Toby Doran, both of whom the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs denied G.I. Bill education benefits. New Mexico stands with our veterans — not just in gratitude, but in action,' Torrez said in a statement. 'These brave men and women have earned every bit of their education benefits through sacrifice and service. The VA's restrictive interpretation is not only unjust, but unlawful, and we're committed to fighting for the full support our veterans and their families deserve.' The brief argues that the VA's interpretation of the G.I. bills contradicts a recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court and the precedent it set. 'Despite the clear precedent, the VA has continued to limit benefits based on an erroneous reading of the ruling, depriving veterans and their families of critical educational opportunities,' a news release from the AG's office said. In other veterans news, U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) this week cosponsored the Major Richard Star Act—bipartisan legislation backers say is intended to provide combat-injured veteran retirees their full benefits. 'The men and women who risked their lives for our country and were injured in combat deserve the full benefits they have earned. Too many veterans have been left behind, and it's far past time we correct this grave injustice,' Luján said in a statement. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Thursday signed two bills aimed at veterans: House Bill 47, which implements constitutional amendments voters approved in the 2024 general election that will raise veteran property tax exemption from $4,000 to $10,000 starting this year, with adjustments for inflation in subsequent years, among other tax relief; and House Bill 161, which provides veterans residing in New Mexico free access to state parks, including unlimited day-use passes and camping passes. 'These new laws represent our state's deep appreciation for the service of our veterans,' Secretary Jamison Herrera, brigadier general (retired), of the Department of Veterans Services said in a statement. 'The property tax relief will provide meaningful financial support to veterans and their families, while access to our state parks offers opportunities for recreation and healing in New Mexico's beautiful outdoor spaces.' New Mexico officials' actions come amid concerns from veterans about proposed cuts to the VA, including in New Mexico where veterans rallied at the Roundhouse earlier in March. In a video posted on social media March 5, VA Secretary Doug Collins said the administration's target to cut 15% of the VA's workforce will be done without decreasing benefits and health care to veterans and other beneficiaries. Vets worry Trump cuts to VA workforce will interrupt benefits
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Lawmakers Try Again on Bill to Give 50,000 Medically Retired Veterans Full VA Disability, Retirement Pay
Members of Congress are trying again to pass legislation that would give medically retired service members full access to both their military retirement pay and disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs. A bipartisan group of senators on Monday introduced their chamber's version of the Major Richard Star Act -- legislation that, if passed, would provide roughly 50,000 veterans full retirement pay and disability benefits. Currently, medically retired service members with fewer than 20 years in uniform and a disability rating of less than 50% have their retirement pay reduced by a dollar for every dollar they receive from the VA. Read Next: First Space Force Guardian Launched into Space Returns with Stranded Astronauts The bill would eliminate that offset, allowing what is known as "concurrent receipt" for these former service members. "This measure corrects one of the deepest injustices in our present veterans' disability system," bill cosponsor Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said in a news release. "It is unacceptable that tens of thousands of combat-injured veterans are denied the full military benefits they earned." Co-sponsor Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., said the proposal ensures that veterans who have made sacrifices have access to their complete benefits. "This legislation makes a critical change to treat our veterans fairly and support our nation's heroes. I urge my colleagues to support its quick passage," Scott said in a statement. The last time the bill was introduced in 2023, it garnered 326 supporters in the House and more than 70 in the Senate but failed to be considered for a vote, largely because it did not include recommendations for covering the cost. The House version, also introduced this week, has 185 bipartisan cosponsors, including Reps. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., and Raul Ruiz, D-Calif., who are leading the initiative. The Senate's version already has 43 sponsors. Nearly four dozen veterans service organizations have voiced support for the bill, and several have made it one of their top legislative priorities this year. During a joint hearing March 3 before the House and Senate veterans affairs committees, Veterans of Foreign Wars National Commander Al Lipphardt said that combat-injured veterans should not be treated differently than Social Security recipients who no longer are required to offset some types of pensions as a result of the Social Security Fairness Act. "Retirement pay and disability compensation are separate benefits earned for different reasons. Congress continues to wrongly treat their concurrent receipt as double dipping," Lipphardt said. "It's time to correct this injustice for our military retirees." AMVETS National Commander Horace Johnson said the bill must be passed out of fairness. "Far too long, veterans and their families have been told to wait while billions are wasted," Johnson said in a joint House and Senate hearing Feb. 25. In 2022, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that the average offset, or loss, experienced by these veterans was $1,900 per month. The CBO also estimated the legislation would cost roughly $9.75 billion over the next decade. Army Reserve Maj. Richard Star developed lung cancer as a result of exposure to environmental pollution in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was medically retired after being diagnosed with terminal cancer and quickly learned that his military retirement pay would be offset by his VA disability pay. He began advocating for a change but died in 2021 before seeing serious consideration of legislation to address the issue. In introducing the House version this week, Bilirakis said he was committed to passing the bill. "Military retirement pay and service-connected disability compensation are two completely different benefits. One does not diminish the merits of the other," Bilirakis said. Related: VA's Threat to Withhold Disability Checks over Decades-Old Separation Pay Surprises Vets
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
American Legion national Commender coming to La Crescent to speak on veteran suicide and other pressing veteran matters
LA CRESCENT, Min. (WLAX/WEUX) – American Legion National Commander James A. LaCoursiere Jr. of Connecticut is coming to La Crescent and will speak on issues of importance to Minnesota veterans. LaCoursiere is strongly committed to raising awareness for The American Legion's 'Be the One' efforts to prevent veteran suicide. 'It is the most significant issue facing veterans,' he told the national convention after being elected in August. 'It is the most significant issue of our time. It's also an issue that galvanizes all of us. I know that we are all touched by someone who has taken their own life.' He will visit La Crescent Area Event Center at 595 Veterans Pkwy. for a social hour, dinner and presentation starting at 5:30 pm on Tuesday, March 25th. LaCoursiere will talk with veterans, community leaders and local residents. The visit is hosted by the veterans of La Crescent American Legion Post 595. The American Legion also is focused on stopping veteran claim sharks, passage of the Major Richard Star Act (which eliminates concurrent receipt on military retirement pensions), implementation of the PACT Act, parity for the federal definition of a veteran, full accountability of POW/MIAs, ending veteran homelessness, paying the Coast Guard during federal shutdowns, and passage of an amendment to protect the U.S. flag from desecration. Post 595 plans to celebrate The American Legion's birthday as well. Any local residents wishing to attend can contact Ricard Acevedo. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
