S. 1032: Major Richard Star Act
Sponsor
Richard Blumenthal
Democrat · CT
Bill Progress
Latest Action · Mar 13, 2025
Read twice and Referred to Armed Services. for review
78 senators want to end a combat-disability pension offset
Why it matters
With 78 Senate cosponsors — a coalition that runs from Bernie Sanders to Ted Cruz — this is one of the most broadly backed bills in Congress. It would let combat-disabled medical retirees collect their full military pension and full VA disability compensation at the same time, ending the dollar-for-dollar offset that hits service members forced out by their wounds before they could finish a career.
The Major Richard Star Act fixes a gap between two kinds of military retirees.
Service members who retire after a full career already get to draw their military pension and their VA disability compensation at the same time, in full — an earlier law restored that. But people medically retired for disability, known as Chapter 61 retirees and often forced out before they could finish a career, were largely left out of that fix. For them, retired pay still gets reduced dollar-for-dollar when they receive VA disability compensation.
This bill ends that reduction for one group: Chapter 61 retirees whose VA disability is combat-related, using the combat-related definition already written into federal law. If you qualify, you'd be paid both your retired pay and your VA disability compensation for the same month, with no offset.
The bill also strips out old statutory language tied to the long-finished phase-in of concurrent receipt for career retirees, so the law reads cleanly. It isn't building a new benefit from scratch — it's extending an existing one to a group that's been excluded.
The change would take effect the first day of the first month after enactment and apply to payments from that point forward. It isn't retroactive.
S. 1032 Bill Summary
What S. 1032 actually does.
Combat-disabled medical retirees keep both checks in full
Eligible Chapter 61 retirees would receive their full military retired pay and their full VA disability compensation for the same month, instead of having one payment reduce the other.
It applies only to combat-related disabilities
The expansion is limited to retirees whose VA compensation is for a combat-related disability, using the combat-related definition that already exists in federal law.
Covers Chapter 61 disability retirees
It specifically includes service members retired for disability under chapter 61, a group often excluded from broader concurrent receipt rules because many leave service before completing a full career.
The VA offset goes away for eligible retirees
For qualifying retirees, retired pay would no longer be reduced under the federal rules that currently cut it when a veteran also receives VA disability compensation.
Old phase-in language is cleaned up
The bill deletes outdated language tied to the now-complete phase-in of concurrent receipt for career retirees and makes related technical edits so the statute reads clearly.
Takes effect the month after enactment, not retroactively
If enacted, the change would begin on the first day of the first month after the law is signed and apply to payments for months starting on or after that date.
Who benefits from S. 1032?
Combat-disabled medical retirees
Service members medically retired with combat-related disabilities would stop losing pension money to the offset, raising their monthly income — often the people most severely wounded in service.
Families of wounded retirees
Households that have absorbed years of reduced retirement income would see steadier finances, since the lost pension money would be restored going forward.
Retirees forced out before a full career
Many medically retired members never reach 20 years of service, so they missed the earlier concurrent receipt fix built around career retirements. This bill reaches that overlooked group.
Veterans service organizations
Groups that have pushed concurrent receipt for years would see movement on a long-running priority they frame as basic fairness for the combat-wounded.
Who is affected by S. 1032?
Defense Department pay systems
The Pentagon would have to adjust retirement pay administration so eligible retirees receive unreduced concurrent payments.
Department of Veterans Affairs
VA disability compensation itself wouldn't change, but its coordination with military retirement pay would have to reflect the new no-offset rule for eligible retirees.
Federal budget and appropriators
Direct spending would rise because more retirees would receive unreduced payments, which is why the bill's path runs through a Congressional Budget Office cost estimate.
Disabled retirees with non-combat disabilities
Retirees whose disabilities aren't classified as combat-related would still face the dollar-for-dollar offset, since the bill lifts it only for combat-related cases.
What Congress Is Saying
S. 1032 has come up 9 times in the Congressional Record so far.
S. 1032 also appeared in 1 more Senate floor reference and 7 routine cosponsor filings.
S1032 Legislative Journey
Committee Action
Mar 13, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
About the Sponsor
Richard Blumenthal
Democrat, CT · 15 years in Congress
Committees: Veterans' Affairs, United States Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
View full profile →
Cosponsors (78)
This bill has 78 cosponsors: 41 Democrats, 35 Republicans, 2 Independents, reflecting bipartisan support. Cosponsors represent 44 states: Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, and 41 more.
Mike Crapo
Republican · ID
Rick Scott
Republican · FL
Elizabeth Warren
Democrat · MA
Michael Bennet
Democrat · CO
Cory Booker
Democrat · NJ
John Boozman
Republican · AR
Katie Britt
Republican · AL
Shelley Capito
Republican · WV
John Cornyn
Republican · TX
Catherine Cortez Masto
Democrat · NV
Tom Cotton
Republican · AR
Kevin Cramer
Republican · ND
Committee Sponsors
Armed Services Committee
20 of 27 committee members cosponsored
2 Democrats across this committee haven't cosponsored yet. Mobilize their constituents
What laws does S. 1032 change?
1 changes
Sections Amended
Section 1413a(f) of such title
striking ``Subsection (d)'' and inserting ``Subsection (c)''
S. 1032 Quick Facts
- Committee
- Armed Services
- Chamber
- Senate
- Policy
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Introduced
- Mar 13, 2025
Read twice and Referred to Armed Services. for review
Mar 13, 2025
Official Sources
The official bill page — full text, the 78 cosponsors, and current Armed Services Committee status.
The concurrent-receipt statute the bill rewrites; Section 2(b) adds a special rule for chapter 61 disability retirees.
The bill draws its 'combat-related disability' definition from subsection (e) of this section and amends its concurrent-receipt language.
One of the two title 38 offset provisions eligible combat-disabled retirees would be exempted from under this bill.
The VA compensation that, under current law, triggers the dollar-for-dollar reduction in retired pay this bill removes for combat-related cases.
Explains the combat-related special compensation program whose statute (10 U.S.C. § 1413a) Section 2(a) of this bill amends to end the title 38 offset.
The committee the bill was referred to on introduction and where it currently sits awaiting action.
CBO's score of the identical House companion bill in the 119th Congress; the Senate bill has no separate estimate, and cost is the central hurdle here.
S. 1032 Common Questions
What does the Major Richard Star Act actually do?
Right now, some medically retired veterans have their military pension reduced dollar-for-dollar by their VA disability pay. This bill ends that reduction for retirees whose disability is combat-related, so they'd collect both checks in full.
Who is a Chapter 61 disability retiree, and would I qualify?
Chapter 61 retirees are service members medically retired for disability — often forced out before completing a full career. You'd qualify under this bill if you're a Chapter 61 retiree who also receives VA disability compensation for a combat-related disability.
What counts as a 'combat-related' disability?
The bill uses the combat-related definition already written into federal law — it isn't creating a new one. Disabilities not classified as combat-related wouldn't qualify for this fix, even if they're service-connected.
Would I get back pay for past months?
No. The bill applies only to payments for months starting on or after its effective date. It isn't retroactive, so offset amounts already withheld wouldn't be repaid.
Why do career retirees already get both checks but medical retirees don't?
An earlier law restored concurrent receipt for career retirees but largely left out Chapter 61 medical retirees — the ones disability forced out before a full career. This bill is meant to close that gap for combat-related cases.
When would payments actually change if it becomes law?
On the first day of the first month after the bill is enacted. From that month forward, eligible retirees would be paid both their retired pay and VA disability compensation with no offset.
If 78 senators support it, why hasn't it passed?
Cost. Paying retirees without the offset adds federal spending, so the bill typically waits for a Congressional Budget Office score and a vehicle — most likely the annual defense bill. Broad support hasn't been enough to clear the price tag.
Which disabled retirees are still left out?
Retirees whose disabilities aren't classified as combat-related. The bill lifts the offset only for combat-related disabilities, so service-connected but non-combat disabilities would still face the dollar-for-dollar reduction.
Based on S. 1032 bill text
S. 1032 Bill Text
“To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for concurrent receipt of veterans’ disability compensation and retired pay for disability retirees with combat-related disabilities, and for other purposes.”
Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office
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