Crapo Presses for Passage of Major Richard Star Act

Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) spoke Tuesday evening at a news conference to urge inclusion of the Major Richard Star Act in the upcoming Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act.

To view the entirety of the 18-minute news conference, click HERE or the image above.

To view just Senator Crapo’s remarks, click HERE.

Crapo was joined at the news conference by U.S. Senator Jon Tester (D-Montana), U.S. Representative Gus Bilirakis (R-Florida) and Tonya Star, wife of the late Richard Star.

Senators Crapo and Tester are the lead Senate sponsors of S. 344, the Major Richard Star Act, which would provide combat-injured veterans with less than 20 years of military service both military retired pay and disability compensation earned through their service to our country.  Representative Bilirakis introduced companion legislation, H.R. 1282, in the U.S. House of Representatives.  The legislation is named in honor of Major Richard A. Star, a decorated war veteran forced to medically retire due to his combat-related injuries.  Major Star sadly lost his battle with cancer on February 13, 2021.

Text of Senator Crapo’s remarks is below:

Major Richard Star was a father, husband, decorated war veteran and friend. 

He was a tireless advocate for ensuring all active duty and retired military personnel receive the full care and benefits they have earned.

He is the namesake of our legislation to do just that.

While Major Star is no longer with us, his wife, Tonya, honors his legacy by carrying on this important work.  Her courage to continue this fight is admirable and deeply valued as we work together to advance the legislation.

The Major Richard Star Act would correct a severe injustice by providing combat-wounded veterans with less than 20 years of service both their disability compensation and retirement pay without reduction.

More than two-thirds of the Senate agrees, with an astounding 71 co-sponsors.  The bill has 327 supporters in the House of Representatives.

The support for this correction is clear.  The Major Richard Star Act must be included in the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act, or any other legislative vehicle as soon as possible.

More than 50,000 veterans, including hundreds in Idaho, could benefit from this change. 

I look forward to enactment of this measure to honor the service of all veterans and Major Star’s enduring legacy.

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