U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer visits Lewis County and pushes for the Major Richard Star Act to ensure broader coverage of benefits for Veterans
LEWIS COUNTY- U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer paid a visit to the North Country on Monday, pushing for legislation that would ensure Veterans receive additional benefits they are entitled to.
While hosting a press conference with several local officials in the village of Copenhagen, NY, the Senator called out what he said are "bureaucratic" regulations that are preventing nearly 50,000 combat-disabled veterans across America, including in the North Country, from receiving the full military benefits they deserve in retirement.
According to Schumer, under current law, only military veterans who retire after 20 years of service and are over 50% disabled may receive concurrent pay for disability and retirement, forcing thousands of veterans who receive military retirement pay from the Department of Defense (DoD) to take a dollar-for-dollar pay reduction for any disability compensation they receive from the VA.
"I always want to make sure our North Country veterans receive the full benefits they deserve, which is why Congress needs to come together and gets serious about defending our nation's defenders - the brave veterans who risked their lives to keep us safe each and every day," Schumer said.
"That's why I'm supporting the Major Richard Star Act - a bipartisan solution to rectify this injustice, ensuring that combat-injured veterans receive the full compensation and retired pay they deserve."
At the event, Schumer cited the experiences of two Fort Drum Veterans and Retired Army Captains, Matthew DePrimo and Scott Kelly. Listen to the entire press conference here:
After 10 years of service, Captain Kelly received a 100% disability rating for traumatic brain injuries, degenerative disk disorder, and a number of other conditions stemming from a combat tour in Afghanistan.
Captain Kelly was a member of the Army Special Forces, Green Beret, where he ran a crisis response group during the United States final draw down in Afghanistan, which was one of the last units out of the country.
Similarly, after 5 years of service, Captain DePrimo was given a 90% disability rating for a number of conditions, including PTSD, stemming from a combat tour in Afghanistan.
Captain DePrimo was distinguished for his extraordinary service by a host of medals and honors, including a Meritorious Service Medal, NATO Medal, ARCOM Metal, and more.
Despite the extraordinary heroism and service to country displayed by Captains Kelly and DePrimo, neither is eligible for concurrent VA disability and DoD retirement under current law, as they did not serve for 20 years or more.
Over 20,000 veterans live in the North Country across the three counties on which Fort Drum is situated, including over 1,700 veterans in Lewis County alone, according to Schumer's office.
Image via the office of U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer.
