How a $10 billion veterans bill became a $78 billion debate
For years, the Major Richard Star Act appeared to have something Congress rarely sees: overwhelming bipartisan support from nearly 80 senators, more than 330 members of the House, major veterans service organizations and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, with a price tag that, while significant, was widely viewed as manageable.
The legislation seeks to end a decades-old offset that forces many combat-injured medically retired veterans to forfeit a portion of their retirement pay for every dollar they receive in VA disability compensation. Supporters have long argued the policy amounts to penalizing service members for injuries sustained in combat, calling it a “Wounded Veteran Tax.”
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