Tennessee Advocates Urge Senate Action For 1,762 Combat Injured Veterans

Nashville, Tennessee Jan 1, 2026 (Issuewire.com) Tennessees economy is losing more than $25.3 million a year because the US Senate has not fixed a federal retirement offset that targets combat injured, medically retired veterans, according to data released by veterans advocates. The loss traces back to a single Senate objection and the silence that followed it.

There are 1,762 combat injured, medically retired veterans in Tennessee currently affected. Under current law, these veterans must waive their Department of Defense retired pay dollar for dollar to receive VA disability compensation.

At a conservative average loss of $1,200 per month in retired pay per veteran, Tennessee loses approximately $2,114,400 every month, or $25,372,800 per yearmoney that would otherwise circulate through households and local businesses. For affected families, this equates to $300 a week missing from budgets for groceries, fuel, prescriptions, utilities, school expenses, and rent.

One sentence in Washington is costing Tennessee families $300 a week, said Senior Chief Shane Junkert, USN (Ret.), founder of 54KVeterans.org. On paper, this bill has the support. In reality, one senator stopped it, and the Senate did not force a vote. Tennessee families are still paying the price.

Recent media coverage

A Mississippi news report has covered Senator Roger Wickers objection and a billboard campaign calling attention to the stalled legislation.

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

In 2021, Senator Wicker publicly described himself as a cosponsor of the Major Star Act in a Memorial Day column, calling it a commonsense fix for combat injured retirees.

Tennessees military footprint

Tennessee is home to Fort Campbell, one of the Armys highest-tempo formations, Naval Support Activity Mid South, and a broad network of Guard, Reserve, and veteran communities. Many of the 1,762 affected veterans trained, deployed, or served through these installations and returned home with combat injuries that ended their careers early.

It is not acceptable for Tennessee to supply the force and then watch wounded retirees lose retirement pay that was earned through service, Junkert said. Imagine youre a Tennessee veteran losing your monthly pension, and a senator from Mississippi does not even give your Tennessee senators a chance to restore it.

Next legislative steps

Advocates are urging Tennessee Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty to publicly support S.Amdt. 4056, the vehicle to carry the Major Star Act into the defense funding process.

Tennessee should not have to wait on Mississippi Sen. Roger Wickers blockade to be lifted, Junkert said.

About 54KVeterans.org

54KVeterans.org is a grassroots coalition of combat injured veterans advocating for passage of the Major Star Act to end the Chapter 61 retirement offset for eligible combat injured medical retirees.