HCM 2017

A CONCURRENT MEMORIAL

Urging the United States congress to pass the major richard star act.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

To the Congress of the United States of America:

Your memorialist respectfully represents:

Whereas, more than 54,000 combat-injured veterans nationwide, including approximately 1,172 in Arizona, were medically retired before completing 20 years of service due to combat or combat-related injuries; and

Whereas, under federal law, these veterans are denied a portion of their earned military retirement pay because it is offset dollar-for-dollar by Department of Veterans Affairs disability compensation, a policy commonly referred to as the "wounded veteran tax"; and

Whereas, in Arizona alone, affected veterans lose approximately $1,200 per month in earned retirement benefits, resulting in more than $16.9 million per year in lost income that would otherwise be spent in Arizona communities; and

Whereas, financial stability is a critical factor in veteran well-being, and predictable earned income helps veterans remain housed, meet basic needs and maintain stability for themselves and their families; and

Whereas, economic insecurity is a known risk factor for housing instability, food insecurity and mental health crises among veterans, and restoring these earned benefits would help reduce those risks for some of Arizona's most severely injured veterans; and

Whereas, ensuring that combat-injured veterans receive the full benefits they have earned supports not only individual veterans but also the stability, safety and well-being of their families and local communities; and

Whereas, military retirement pay is earned through years of honorable service, while disability compensation is intended to address the lifelong impacts of service-connected injuries, and these benefits serve distinct and separate purposes; and

Whereas, a veteran who was wounded in service to this country should not be forced to choose between retirement pay and disability compensation; and

Whereas, this policy impacts communities across Arizona; and

Whereas, Congress has already authorized concurrent receipt of military retirement pay and disability compensation for other categories of disabled retirees, and the Major Richard Star Act would correct the remaining inequity affecting combat-injured veterans who were medically retired before 20 years of service; and

Whereas, members of Arizona's congressional delegation from both parties have already cosponsored the Major Richard Star Act, demonstrating strong bipartisan support for this legislation.

Wherefore your memorialist, the House of Representatives of the State of Arizona, the Senate concurring, prays:

1. That the United States Congress immediately pass the Major Richard Star Act.

2. That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona transmit copies of this Memorial to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and each Member of Congress from the State of Arizona.