It’s time for Congress to correct an injustice against combat-disabled veterans

As Congress returns from recess next month, they should pause to reflect how culture wars about abortion, gender identity, and diversity programs became more urgent than correcting an injustice for America’s combat-wounded warriors.  

Despite bipartisan efforts in both the Senate and House to pass the Major Richard Star Act (MRSA), introduced by Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.) respectively, the bills have disappointingly stalled for unknown reasons while other issues took the spotlight even with 326 co-sponsors in the House and 70 in the Senate. 

But the MRSA, S.344 and H.R.1282, aims to rectify an injustice affecting over 50,000 combat-disabled veterans nationwide, including nearly 2,400 in Georgia based on a 2021 Department of Defense (DOD) report, because under the proposed measure they would receive both DOD retirement and Veterans Affairs (VA) disability compensation concurrently. The current law unfairly reduces, dollar for dollar, DOD retirement by the amount of VA compensation military retirees receive with less than 20 years of service who were forced to retire due to combat disabilities. Major Star, who advocated for this change, unfortunately passed away in February 2021. 

Rep. Bilirakis's powerful op-ed in the Hill demands it's time to bring to light this alarming and unjust offset affecting our bravest servicemembers. Our armed forces put everything on the line to protect our freedom and way of life. Yet, upon their return, the very system that should be safeguarding their futures is, in fact, letting them down. 

The crucial point to remember is that this is not a handout — it's a promise made and a debt owed by our nation to its wounded veterans. Given that a minute fraction of our population, less than 0.5 percent, currently serve in the armed forces, with only 7 percent having served at some point, the reality is that we owe an immeasurable debt to a few for the freedom of many. These figures become even more poignant when considering the over 50,000 individuals who, due to combat injuries, took early medical retirement. 

While large numbers and statistics can often feel abstract, the plight of Major Richard Star, as highlighted by Bilirakis, brings a deeply personal touch to this issue. Star's story underscores the harsh reality many veterans face upon returning home — a system that should support them instead becomes an obstacle to reaching economic security. 

Even with bipartisan support, hurdles to passage remained: namely finding a budgetary offset to fund the bill. The cost of this reform, about $10 billion over a decade, pales in comparison to our massive military expenditure in various international ventures. More than mere numbers, it's about rectifying an injustice and honoring our pledge to those who've given so much.  

And with Congress adding an additional $9.5 billion for payments to the military retirement system during the National Defense Authorization Act hearings, doubling the prior three year’s average, there is still no movement on a vote in either chamber even as the House version sits on both the Consensus and Union calendars rotting. The funding is there, so why is there no movement on the bill? 

The question then arises: how can our nation, which prioritizes defense in its very foundational document, fail to prioritize the well-being of its defenders? Our Constitution is abundantly clear about the importance of defense, and by extension, those who ensure it. If we are truly bound by the spirit and letter of our founding charter, then the well-being of our combat wounded veterans should be a top priority for national security. Why isn't it then? 

Moreover, we must also reconsider our spending priorities. While a fiscal conservative approach is commendable and necessary for sustainable national growth, we must also ensure we're not saving pennies while forsaking our moral compass. The funds that we allocate outside of our Constitution's intent could be better served by redirecting them toward the servicemembers who stood on the frontlines for our liberty. 

In an era where political division seems all too common, this is a unifying cause, so any further delay in passing the Major Richard Star Act is a failure we cannot afford. We're not just talking about honoring our commitment; we're talking about integrity, fairness and basic human decency. Every day we delay economic security for our wounded warriors, we further erode the very values they fought to protect. 

For every elected official reading this, consider it a call to move this law to passage. For every American citizen and those hoping to be one, raise your voice in support. We owe it to America’s wounded warriors not just to utter words of thanks and gratitude but to tangibly manifest them into action to ensure they receive every benefit they rightly deserve.  

William J. Black, III, is a Georgia lawyer, combat-disabled retiree of the U.S. Air Force, and 2021 U.S. Department of Defense Warrior Games Athlete for Team Air Force.