Advocates Urge Senators Moreno and Husted to Support $20.4M Relief for Ohio Veterans, Honor Major Richard Star’s Legacy

Columbus, Ohio Jan 1, 2026 (Issuewire.com) Ohios economy is losing an estimated $20.4 million annually due to a federal retirement offset that remains unresolved in the Senate. Following a procedural objection that delayed the Major Richard Star Actnamed after Garfield Heights native Major Richard Starveterans advocates are now calling on Senators Bernie Moreno and Jon Husted to back a new legislative vehicle, S.Amdt. 4056, to deliver relief to 1,421 local retirees.

The offset, which reduces military retired pay for combat-injured veterans who also receive disability compensation, drains approximately $1.7 million from the Ohio economy every month.

Honoring an Ohio Legacy

Major Richard Star, the bills namesake, was born in Garfield Heights and deployed from Marion, Ohio. He served in Iraq and Afghanistan before succumbing to cancer related to burn pit exposure. Advocates emphasize that passing this legislation is a matter of finishing the mission for an Ohio native.

Major Richard Star fought two wars and cancer, and he and his widow Tonya Star spent their final days advocating for this fix, said Senior Chief Shane Junkert, USN (Ret.), a decorated combat veteran. We are asking Senators Moreno and Husted to honor Major Stars legacy by ensuring the benefits he fought for are finally delivered to the 1,421 Ohio families who are still waiting.

The Cost of Inaction

For the 1,421 affected Ohio families, the legislative stalemate is not a theoretical lossit is a tangible reduction of roughly $300 per week. This covers essentials such as groceries, fuel, prescriptions, and rent.

We are asking for the retirement pay that was earned through service, Junkert said. Every month this bill stalls, Ohio veterans see their compensation reduced. Advocates say Senator Wickers objection may have stopped the vote, but Ohios leadership has the opportunity to be the solution.

Media Coverage of the Senate Objection

The stalled legislation has drawn significant media attention regarding the specific obstacle in the Senate. A recent report by WTVA9 News details the objection by Senator Roger Wicker that prevented the bills passage. The coverage also highlights the billboard campaign launched across the region by PassTheAct.org to raise awareness about the delay in allowing a vote.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMYuPw4ELTA

Ohios Role in National Defense

Ohio is a cornerstone of U.S. military readiness. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is the heart of Air Force logistics and research, while the Youngstown Air Reserve Station and the 180th Fighter Wing in Toledo provide critical capabilities. Many of the veterans affected by the offset served through these Ohio installations.

Breaking the Gridlock

On October 8, 2025, the Major Richard Star Act was poised to pass via unanimous consent until a single objection on the Senate floor delayed the measure. This objection prevented a recorded vote.

Advocates emphasize that the objection rests on the argument that concurrent receipt is a "double benefit"a claim strongly disputed by veterans' organizations. Advocates note that military retired pay and VA disability compensation are separate entitlements: one for service rendered, the other for injuries sustained.

A Clear Choice for Ohio Senators

Supporters argue this moment represents a decisive accountability test for the Ohio delegation. With the defense appropriations bill (H.R. 4016) moving forward, Senators Moreno and Husted face a direct choice: publicly support S.Amdt. 4056 to attach the fix to the must-pass defense bill, or allow the single objection from October to stand. The latter path would mean continuing the $20.4 million annual loss to Ohio households.

Senators Moreno and Husted have an opportunity to finish the mission for the Star family and 54,000 combat injured veterans across the country, Junkert added. With the vote on H.R. 4016 approaching, Ohio is watching. Advocates ask: Will their Senators help carry the fix, or will 1,421 families continue to lose $300 a week?

About 54KVeterans.org

54KVeterans.org is a grassroots coalition of combat-injured veterans dedicated to passing the Major Richard Star Act. The organization is led by Senior Chief Shane Junkert, USN (Ret.), a combat veteran who completed six deployments. Junkert leads the effort to restore full vested retirement pay for the 54,000 veterans currently subject to the Chapter 61 offset.