HJM 4012
In CommitteeHouse
Combat-injured veterans
Supporting combat-injured veterans.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill is a joint memorial urging the U.S. Congress to pass the Major Richard Star Act, which would allow combat-injured veterans with less than 20 years of service to receive full military retirement pay and VA disability compensation at the same time—ending a current inequity that only benefits longer-serving veterans. It does not change state law but asks the federal government to act on behalf of injured veterans who were forced into medical retirement.
- Calls on the U.S. Congress and Department of Defense to pass and implement the Major Richard Star Act (H.R. 2102) to eliminate inequities in concurrent receipt of military retirement and VA disability pay for combat-injured veterans.
- Seeks to ensure full concurrent receipt—the ability to receive both full military retirement pay and full VA disability compensation—regardless of years of service, for veterans medically retired due to combat injuries.
- Highlights that current federal law (since 2004) only allows concurrent receipt for veterans with 20 or more years of service, leaving shorter-service, combat-injured veterans at a disadvantage.
- Requests that copies of the memorial be sent to the President of the United States, Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs, and all Washington State members of Congress to urge federal action.
Who is affected
- Combat-injured veterans with less than 20 years of service — Veterans who were medically discharged or retired due to combat-related injuries but served fewer than 20 years may currently receive reduced or no concurrent receipt of military retirement pay and VA disability compensation; this bill seeks federal legislation to ensure they receive full concurrent receipt like longer-serving veterans.
- Families of combat-injured veterans — Families of affected veterans may be impacted by reduced household income due to current pay disparities between similarly injured veterans based solely on length of service.
- Washington State government agencies and legislative staff — State agencies and legislative staff may be involved in coordinating outreach or advocacy efforts related to federal action on this issue, though no direct state funding or administrative burden is created by this memorial.
Pro/Con Analysis
Potential Benefits (5)
If the federal Major Richard Star Act passes, affected veterans (many with low-to-moderate incomes due to disability and early separation) would receive significantly higher monthly income — potentially tens of thousands of dollars more over a lifetime — improving household financial stability and reducing reliance on public assistance.
FinancialPeopleRef: Section: 'Calls on the U.S. Congress and Department of Defense to pass and implement the Major Richard Star Act (H.R. 2102)... to eliminate inequities... for combat-injured veterans'; whereas clause: 'leaving veterans with less than 20 years of service... in the same inequitable position'This addresses a systemic inequity that discriminates against shorter-service veterans solely on the basis of length of service, despite identical injury severity and combat origin — a matter of equal protection and fair treatment under federal law.
Rights & LibertiesPeopleRef: Section: 'Seeks to ensure full concurrent receipt... for veterans medically retired due to combat injuries'; whereas clause: 'Two service members can suffer the same combat injury... receive vastly different treatment based on... time served'Ensuring full concurrent receipt supports veterans’ mental health, reduces suicide risk, and improves reintegration outcomes — especially critical for those who left service early due to injury and may lack strong transition support networks.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Section: 'Our nation has a moral obligation to support combat-injured veterans...'; whereas clause: 'veterans who were forced into medical retirement due to combat-related injuries'Families of affected veterans — often spouses and children — benefit from increased household income stability, reduced financial stress, and improved access to housing, education, and healthcare, especially in high-cost areas like Washington.
FinancialPeopleRef: Section: 'Families of combat-injured veterans' (affected groups section)This memorial provides Washington’s congressional delegation with political cover and constituent support to advocate for federal reform, potentially increasing their leverage in negotiations with defense and veterans’ affairs committees.
Local GovernmentRef: Section: 'Requests that copies... be sent to... all Washington State members of Congress'
Potential Concerns (5)
This memorial expresses strong moral and ethical support for equal treatment of combat-injured veterans, reinforcing the principle that disability due to combat service should not be penalized based on length of service. While symbolic, it elevates the moral urgency of the issue and may influence federal lawmakers.
Rights & LibertiesRef: Preamble: 'Our nation has a moral obligation to support combat-injured veterans...'; whereas clause: 'Two service members can suffer the same combat injury, but receive vastly different treatment based on each service member's time served...'; whereas clause: 'Congress recognized the inequitable and unfair treatment... in 2004... limited its application to veterans who served 20 or more years'; whereas clause: 'leaving veterans with less than 20 years of service... in the same inequitable position'; resolution: 'respectfully pray that the Major Richard Star Act... be scheduled for a floor vote'The bill explicitly states it has no fiscal impact on Washington State. As a joint memorial, it does not appropriate funds, impose state-level mandates, or alter state tax or spending policy — only urges federal action.
FinancialRef: Fiscal Impact: 'No direct fiscal impact on state funds; this is a joint memorial expressing support for federal legislation... Any fiscal impact would occur at the federal level'By advocating for federal reform, the memorial supports improved long-term stability and reintegration outcomes for injured veterans, potentially reducing long-term reliance on emergency social services and crisis response systems (e.g., homelessness, mental health crises).
Public SafetyRef: Section: 'Seeks to ensure full concurrent receipt... regardless of years of service, for veterans medically retired due to combat injuries'This memorial creates no administrative burden on state or local agencies, but may prompt limited state-level advocacy or coordination with federal offices. No new state staff time or funding is required under current law.
Local GovernmentRef: Section: 'Requests that copies... be sent to the President... Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs... and all Washington State members of Congress'The memorial avoids encroaching on state sovereignty or creating unfunded mandates. It respects the constitutional division of powers by addressing only federal policy, minimizing legal or jurisdictional risk.
Local GovernmentRef: Section: 'This bill does not change state law but asks the federal government to act on behalf of injured veterans who were forced into medical retirement'
Who Is Most Affected
Combat-injured veterans with <20 years of service are the direct intended beneficiaries. Under current federal law, they receive reduced or no concurrent receipt — often losing thousands in annual income. If H.R. 2102 passes, they would receive full pay, improving financial security and recognition of sacrifice.
Families of affected veterans stand to benefit from increased household income and reduced financial stress, but only if the federal law passes. Without federal action, they face no change — and may experience indirect harm if state advocacy diverts attention from other veteran services.
Washington State government agencies (e.g., Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of the Secretary of State) may assist in outreach or coordination, but the memorial imposes no new duties or costs. Legislative staff may spend minimal time on federal advocacy, but no budget impact exists.
Federal policymakers — especially members of Congress on the Armed Services and Veterans’ Affairs committees — gain political support for supporting the bill, but face budgetary trade-offs if H.R. 2102 passes. The fiscal cost would fall on the federal DoD and VA budgets, not Washington.
Veterans service organizations (e.g., VFW, DAV) are strong advocates for concurrent receipt reform and would likely support this memorial. They may redirect resources to federal lobbying, but gain political momentum for their cause.