House Passes Major Richard Star Act, Ending the Wounded Veterans Tax

WASHINGTON – The House of Representatives today passed the Major Richard Star Act (H.R. 2102) by a vote of 392 to 18, ending a six-year fight to stop the Pentagon from clawing back retirement pay from combat-injured veterans.

The bill eliminates the dollar-for-dollar offset that forces roughly 59,000 medically retired, combat-injured veterans to give up military retirement pay for every dollar of VA disability compensation they receive. Retirees who served 20 years collect both. These veterans, forced out early by their wounds, do not.

“Six years ago, Major Star asked Congress to fix this. He died before we could,” said Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39). “Today the House did what a bipartisan majority has wanted to do for years. It took a discharge petition and 218 signatures, and it took veterans who refused to quit, but combat-injured veterans will finally keep what they earned. I thank every Democrat and Republican who signed and every veterans’ organization that stayed in the fight.”

"We did it! After more than six years of fighting, the House has passed my bipartisan bill, the Major Richard Star Act," said Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-25). “This is a historic victory for combat-wounded veterans and their families. It ends the wounded veteran tax, so combat-injured veterans receive both the retirement pay and the disability compensation they earned. Our veterans deserve a government that fights just as hard for them as they fought for us. Now the Senate must act. We will not stop until every veteran receives the justice and fairness they have earned.” 

“Every Congress since I got here, I’ve signed on to this bill, and every Congress veterans were told to wait,” said Rep. Chris Pappas (NH-01), a cosponsor since 2019. “Combat-injured veterans kept their promise. Today Congress finally kept ours.”

“Today, against the will of the House Republican leadership, we passed a bill to help tens of thousands of my fellow veterans," said U.S. Navy veteran Rep. Chris Deluzio (PA-17). "Right now, veterans who had to retire because of their battle wounds are being denied their full retirement pay and VA disability compensation. By passing the Major Richard Star Act, we are saying that it is finally time to right this wrong and stop blocking these hard-earned veteran benefits. The Senate should pass this measure and send it to the President to sign."

Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) introduced the bill in 2020. Major Richard Star, a U.S. Army Reserve soldier, advocated for it publicly while battling cancer and died on Feb. 13, 2021, at age 51. Reps. Bilirakis and Ruiz have reintroduced the bill in each Congress since.

The road to passage:

2020: Rep. Bilirakis introduces the bill in the 116th Congress.

2021: Reintroduced after Star’s death. In September, the House Rules Committee blocks it as an NDAA amendment because it lacked an offset.

2023: The bill passes 290 House cosponsors and is added to the Consensus Calendar, but still did not get a floor vote.

2025: Reintroduced as H.R. 2102 and S. 1032 and eventually drew more than 330 House cosponsors and 79 in the Senate.

May 21, 2026: Takano files a discharge petition, H.R. 1247, to force a vote.

June 10, 2026: Republican leaders introduce the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act, a package that folds in a lesser version of the Star Act alongside dozens of other provisions. Takano, Ruiz, and major veterans organizations including Disabled American Veterans oppose it over its funding structure and the cuts and caps it carries.

Sept. 15, 2026: Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) provides the 218th signature.

Nov. 12, 2026: The House passes the Major Richard Star Act.

The Major Richard Star Act is backed by a broad coalition of veterans and military service organizations, including Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Jewish War Veterans, Marine Corps League, Reserve Organization of America, Student Veterans of America, Wounded Warrior Project, Veterans Justice Alliance, The American Legion, Military Officers Association of America, Vietnam Veterans of America, National Guard Association of the United States, Blue Star Families, Fleet Reserve Association, Elizabeth Dole Foundation, Team Rubicon, Blinded Veterans Association, Non Commissioned Officers Association, National Military Family Association, Air Force Sergeants Association, Association of the U.S. Army, U.S. Army Warrant Officers Association, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, National Defense Committee, Mission Roll Call, and dozens of other veterans service and advocacy organizations.

The Senate companion, S. 1032, led by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), awaits action.

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