CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

97

CHAPTER 169

Statutes of 2025

Introduced by Assembly Member Alanis

June 11, 2025

Relative to Veterans.

Fiscal committee: no

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

This measure would urge the United States Congress to pass the Major Richard Star Act to ensure veterans with disabilities receive their full United States Department of Defense retirement pay and United States Department of Veterans Affairs disability compensation without offset.

WHEREAS, The Major Richard Star Act (H.R. 2102, S. 1032), presented by the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, seeks to amend federal law to expand eligibility for concurrent receipt of disability compensation and retirement pay for veterans; and

WHEREAS, Current federal law requires a dollar-for-dollar offset of disability compensation and retirement pay for a veteran with a disability who was medically retired with fewer than 20 years of service, denying them the full benefits they earned through their service and sacrifice; and

WHEREAS, Approximately 50,000 veterans with disabilities, including those who sustained combat-related injuries, are affected by this offset, resulting in significant financial hardship, with an average loss of $1,200 per month in earned benefits; and

WHEREAS, The Major Richard Star Act aims to correct this injustice by allowing an eligible veteran with a disability to receive both their full United States Department of Defense retirement pay and United States Department of Veterans Affairs disability compensation; and

WHEREAS, The bill has garnered significant bipartisan support in Congress, with substantial cosponsorship in both the House of Representatives and the Senate; and

WHEREAS, California is home to one of the largest veteran populations in the nation, with many veterans with disabilities who have served honorably and who are impacted by the current offset policy; and

WHEREAS, Numerous veterans’ organizations have endorsed the Major Richard Star Act, highlighting its importance in ensuring that a veteran with a disability receives the benefits they rightfully earned; and

WHEREAS, Congress has a duty to care for veterans with disabilities, ensuring they receive the support and benefits earned through their service; and

WHEREAS, Veterans with disabilities have advocated for the elimination of this offset, underscoring the physical, psychological, and financial burdens they face due to this policy; and

WHEREAS, The Major Richard Star Act aligns with the nation’s commitment to honor and support all veterans, including those in California, by ensuring they receive the full benefits they earned through their service, regardless of their length of service or immigration status; and

WHEREAS, The California Legislature recognizes the urgent need to address this injustice and support veterans with disabilities who have sacrificed for our nation; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature urges the United States Congress to pass the Major Richard Star Act (H.R. 2102, S. 1032) to ensure that veterans with disabilities receive their full United States Department of Defense retirement pay and United States Department of Veterans Affairs disability compensation without offset; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, to each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United States, and to the author, for appropriate distribution.