Two attempts to advance the Major Richard Star Act out of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee for a full vote in the Senate were blocked earlier this week.
“This legislation has never been accepted because we simply can’t afford it,” said Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI), who blocked the attempts, objecting to the costs of the legislation, claiming it would add between $10 and $12 billion to defense spending over 10 years.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), the Ranking Member on the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, rebuked Sen. Johnson's actions and referenced the on-going war on Iran.
“I am heartbroken for a nation that can afford to spend tens of billions of dollars, as we are doing right now, perhaps hundreds of billions, in a conflict far away putting American lives in harm's way, causing death, six at least so far, and casualties in real-time when we are failing to match their bravery with our own," Sen. Blumenthal said. "It is unconscionable. A lot of words, a lot of numbers, a lot of fallbacks to Senate procedure process—meaningless.”
The stalled bipartisan legislation has 77 cosponsors in the Senate. It would ensure medically retired combat-injured veterans can receive their full military retirement and Department of Veterans Affairs disability payments, which they currently receive a dollar-for-dollar reduction, without offset.
Only veterans with disability ratings above 50 percent and more than 20 years of service are currently eligible to receive the full military benefits. More than 50,000 veterans are impacted by the offset.
Veterans advocates have been lobbying for the legislation for six years, but lawmakers have balked at its estimated $9.75 billion cost over 10 years.
On March 3, Sen. Blumenthal asked for unanimous consent to advance the legislation. Johnson initially blocked that request and Blumenthal offered a compromise motion that would have set up a single roll call vote on the bill at a 60-vote threshold.
That motion would have waived all procedural votes to protect floor time and gave Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) discretion to call up the vote at any point before August. Johnson also blocked that motion.
“We are in a war right now, real-time. And some of those combat-injured veterans will be sacrificing their disability or retirement pay because of this injustice,” Sen. Blumenthal said. “We can afford to right this injustice … it is a pittance compared to the cost of our national defense, which is close to a trillion dollars now.
"This country can afford to do the right thing by these combat-injured veterans, and we have a moral imperative to do so.”
In testimony before the SVAC prior to the votes, VFW National Commander Carol Whitmore urged passage of the legislation.
“This is not double-dipping. This is double sacrifice,” she said. “Veterans have fulfilled their obligation. Now, the country must honor the contract,” she said. “Not partially, not eventually, not someday, but today, fully and faithfully. Stop the procedural games, have a real hearing, and get this done.”
Over the past two weeks, Veterans Service Organizations have been lobbying Congress to pass the legislation, calling it their top legislative priority.
Speaking on the importance of passing the legislation, Would Warrior Project CEO retired Army Lt. Gen. Walter Piatt urged members of Congress "to do right by our past, current, and future combat veterans by passing the Major Richard Star Act this year — finally allowing for those who were forced to medically retire due to combat-related injuries to receive the benefits they earned in blood."
SVAC Chairman Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and co-sponsor of the Star Act, spoke in its support on the Senate floor.
“They have upheld their oath; they have fulfilled their duties. The question before us is whether we will fulfill ours,” he said on March 2.
The bill has 316 co-sponsors in the House of Representatives.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.