Hinds Today

U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith has reaffirmed her support for the bipartisan Major Richard Star Act, aiming to amend a policy affecting combat-injured veterans. The policy currently impacts over 50,000 military retirees who are unable to receive both their full military retirement pay and veteran disability compensation due to service-connected disabilities.

This legislation, officially reintroduced as S.1032, seeks to address the discrepancy that affects veterans retired before completing 20 years of service. Hyde-Smith emphasized, “It’s simply unfair to withhold full VA disability and military retirement benefits to veterans forced into early retirement because of service-connected disabilities.”

Senators Richard Blumenthal and Mike Crapo have taken the initiative to bring this act before the Senate Armed Services Committee. Their efforts are supported by endorsements from 45 veterans' organizations, such as the Vietnam Veterans of America and the Wounded Warrior Project.

The act serves to honor Major Richard A. Star, a decorated veteran, compelled into medical retirement due to his service-related injuries. The proposed legislation continues to seek justice for combat-disabled veterans.