Congresswoman Lee Votes to Pass Legislation in Support of Combat-Injured Veterans
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03) voted to pass the Major Richard Star Act, bipartisan legislation to fix the Wounded Warrior Tax, which applies to veterans who were forced to medically retire due to combat-related injuries. These veterans do not currently receive their full military retirement pay or their full disability compensation. Instead, their Department of Defense (DoD) retirement pay is offset – dollar for dollar – by the amount of VA disability pay they receive.
“When veterans pledge their service to the United States, their oath to serve this country doesn’t expire. The promise from the American people to support our veterans shouldn’t either,” said Congresswoman Susie Lee. “This bipartisan bill ensures combat-wounded veterans receive both their disability benefits and full retirement pay. A grateful nation pays its debts to veterans, and I am glad to have voted to pass the Major Richard Star Act to ensure that is the case.”
The House could have already voted on this critically important legislation, but instead of putting it on the floor as a standalone bill, Speaker Mike Johnson combined it into the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act earlier this year, which proposed paying for this legislation by cutting future benefits for other veterans and would have created the largest cut to veterans' benefits in history. Instead, a bipartisan group of members signed a discharge petition to circumvent Republican House leadership and bring this bill to an immediate vote on its own.
What the Major Richard Star Act does:
- End the Wounded Warrior Tax, allowing veterans to choose between two paths:
- Option 1: They can stay in the Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) program, which provides tax-free payments to retired veterans with service-connected disability caused by combat and disability ratings of at least 30%.
- Option 2: They can opt out of the CRSC program to receive their full VA compensation and all their military retirement pay.
- This change gives them the autonomy and authority to choose the best path for them.
As southern Nevada’s sole member on the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, Congresswoman Lee will continue working to ensure that Nevada’s servicemembers, veterans, and military families receive the benefits, recognition, and support they have earned through their service.
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