Rep. Joshua Penner introduces a measure to support the full benefits for combat-injured veterans

Legislation to address a long-standing benefit disparity for wounded service members has been introduced in the Washington State House of Representatives. Sponsored by Rep. Joshua Penner, R-Orting, House Joint Memorial 4012 is a formal petition from the Washington Legislature urging the federal government to end a long-standing financial penalty for combat-injured veterans. The measure calls for the immediate passage of the Major Richard Star Act (H.R. 2102) to ensure that veterans forced into medical retirement due to combat-related injuries would receive their full retirement and disability benefits concurrently.

Under current federal law, veterans with combat-related injuries who are medically retired before completing 20 years of service are subject to a ‘prohibited concurrent receipt’ rule. This requires their retirement pay to be reduced by the amount of disability compensation they receive, a disparity that does not apply to those who served 20 years or more.

“As a veteran, I find it unacceptable that two service members can suffer the exact same combat injury but receive vastly different treatment based solely on their years of service,” Penner said. “We have a moral obligation to support those who have made selfless sacrifices for our country. We owe it to our veterans to ensure their sacrifices are fully honored. This isn’t about years on a clock. It’s about honoring the injuries sustained while protecting our nation.”

HJM 4012 urges the President of the United States and Congress to schedule a floor vote for H.R. 2102 to prioritize the nation’s sacred promise to all combat-injured veterans. The memorial points out that while Congress acknowledged this unfair treatment in 2004, the law still penalizes those forced into medical retirement due to combat injuries.

“When our service members are forced into retirement because of wounds they sustained in battle, they shouldn’t be forced to choose between the benefits they earned through service and the compensation they deserve for their injuries,” Penner added. “This is about fairness, dignity, and keeping the promises we made to our veterans.”

HJM 4012 has been referred to the House Technology, Economic Development, and Veterans Committee. If passed by the Washington State Legislature, copies of the memorial will be transmitted to the President of the United States, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and the Washington state congressional delegation.

###

Washington State House Republican Communications
houserepublicans.wa.gov