Congressman Don Davis Hosts Veterans Roundtable and Resource Fair

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Congressman Don Davis (NC-01) hosted a veterans roundtable and resource fair in Rocky Mount, bringing together veterans from across North Carolina's First District to discuss the importance of advancing H.R. 2102, Major Richard Star Act. The legislation would allow combat-injured veterans to receive both their full military retirement pay and disability compensation without offset or penalty.

Congressman Davis signed Discharge Petition No. 22 to bring H.R. 2102, the Major Richard Star Act, to the House floor for a vote. He was also one of the first members of Congress to cosponsor the bill. The legislation would end what many veterans call the "wounded warrior tax," a policy that reduces retirement pay for combat-injured servicemembers who are medically forced to retire before reaching 20 years of service. The Major Richard Star Act would allow eligible veterans to receive both their full military retirement pay and VA disability benefits. The bill would support more than 50,000 combat-injured veterans nationwide and is named in honor of Army Reserve Major Richard A. Star, who became seriously ill from burn pit exposure during deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Eastern North Carolina is home to a proud military community, and far too many veterans across our region have not received their due for the sacrifices they made serving our country," said Congressman Don Davis. "The Major Richard Star Act is about ensuring combat-injured veterans receive the full retirement and disability benefits they earned through their service. Veterans and military families in communities from Goldsboro to Elizabeth City have given so much in defense of this nation, and Congress has a responsibility to stand with them long after the uniform comes off."

Additional legislation discussed during the roundtable focused on improving veterans' health care, employment opportunities, and access to earned benefits. Congressman Davis highlighted H.R. 4518, the CARE Act, legislation he introduced to help disabled veterans and their families better navigate the VA Caregiver Program. The measure was later signed into law as part of the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits and Improvements Act. H.R. 4518 improves communication and transparency within the caregiver system while helping to ensure that veterans and caregivers have better access to the support and resources they have earned through service and sacrifice.

Organizations from across eastern North Carolina were also on hand to provide veterans and their families with critical support services, benefits assistance, legal guidance, and community resources. Participants included the Veteran Services of the Carolinas, Edgecombe County Veteran Services, Nash County Veteran Services, and the Greenville Vet Center.

Congressman Don Davis is a 1994 U.S. Air Force Academy graduate and a U.S. Air Force veteran. He serves as the vice ranking member of the U.S. House Armed Services Committee, where he serves on the Readiness and Tactical Air and Land Forces subcommittees.

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