At a joint hearing of the Senate and House Veterans’ Affairs Committees, Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) underscored the importance of veterans’ advocacy in achieving legislative progress. The hearing included testimony from Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs), which have identified the Major Richard Star Act as their top policy priority.
Blumenthal addressed recent developments regarding the Major Richard Star Act, legislation designed to provide more than 50,000 combat-injured veterans with full military benefits. The bill would allow medically retired combat-injured veterans to receive both Department of Defense retirement and Department of Veterans Affairs disability payments without reductions. Currently, these payments are subject to a dollar-for-dollar offset.
“Yesterday, I went to the floor of the United States Senate and asked for unanimous consent to pass the Major Richard Star Act. Unfortunately, it was blocked. I asked, as a fall back, for a simple vote on the bill before August, it was blocked as well,” said Blumenthal. “…The Chairman just talked about promises. Promises are meaningless unless they are kept. We made a promise to these veterans that they would receive both retirement and disability benefits. We owe them both, and I promise you I will not stop fighting until we pass the Richard StarAct in this Congress."
Blumenthal’s attempts to advance the bipartisan legislation were blocked twice by Senate Republicans. Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) objected to passing or scheduling a vote on the bill before August, citing cost concerns: “we simply cannot afford it.” In October, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS) also prevented movement on the bill despite its broad support—77 cosponsors in the Senate and 316 in the House.
The Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee plays a key role in overseeing programs that support veterans nationwide, including improving access to VA health care and assisting with transitions to civilian life. The committee collaborates with entities such as the Department of Veterans Affairs and maintains offices within the U.S. Capitol complex.
During his remarks, Blumenthal also referenced reporting from The New York Times about reductions in VA medical staff under policies implemented during the Trump Administration. He highlighted concerns over thousands of vacant positions for doctors and nurses at VA facilities: “…At our hearing last month, Secretary Collins said the VA needs more doctors. And yet, he has eliminated thousands of positions and jobs. We need your help. We need your advocacy. We need your voices and your faces. Which is why it's so important you're here today so that we can maintain, restore, and even grow the numbers of doctors, nurses, counselors, psychiatrists. All of the team, at VA health care that is so important to make sure that we have sufficient workforce to serve the needs of our veterans.”
Blumenthal concluded by thanking VSOs for their continued engagement: “Thank you all for being here today.”
Jerry Moran currently serves as chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, with Blumenthal as ranking member.
