Published November 12, 2026 · By
The Major Richard Star Act moved closer to a final House vote this week after lawmakers voted 245-175 on Veterans Day to force the standalone bill to the floor, overriding the objections of most House Republicans, including Speaker Mike Johnson. The measure would let tens of thousands of combat-injured military retirees collect both their full retired pay and their full Department of Veterans Affairs disability compensation, ending a dollar-for-dollar offset that advocates have fought for years.
The same day, the House approved a broader Republican-backed veterans package by voice vote that also includes Major Richard Star Act language. Both measures now face an uncertain path in the Senate before the current Congress ends in January.
What Happened With the Major Richard Star Act on Veterans Day
On Wednesday, November 11, Rep. Mark Takano of California, the top Democrat on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, moved to discharge the Rules Committee from H.Res. 1247, the resolution that sets the terms for floor debate on H.R. 2102. When the resolution was initially announced as failing on a voice vote, Takano requested a recorded vote, according to Military.com.
The recorded tally on the Major Richard Star Act rule was 245-175. Every Democrat who voted, one independent and 34 Republicans supported the motion. All 175 "no" votes came from Republicans, among them Speaker Johnson, Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Bost of Illinois. The bill's lead sponsor, Rep. Gus Bilirakis, a Florida Republican, voted yes.
The vote was procedural. It did not pass the Major Richard Star Act itself, but it cleared the way for a standalone floor vote. The House Republican Cloakroom listed passage of H.R. 2102 on its Thursday, November 12 vote schedule. Rep. Greg Landsman, an Ohio Democrat, wrote on Thursday that the bill had passed the House, but an official roll-call tally was not yet available when this article was written.
How the Discharge Petition Got Here
Takano filed a discharge petition on May 21 to bypass leadership and bring the bill to the floor. It reached the required 218 signatures on September 15, when Rep. Nancy Mace, a South Carolina Republican, signed on, according to Stars and Stripes. That outlet reported that the signers included 213 Democrats and five Republicans. A similar process was used this year in the push for an Epstein files vote.
The Major Richard Star Act has broad nominal support. The Military Officers Association of America counted 341 House cosponsors as of November 2. In the Senate, the companion bill is led by Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat, and has drawn roughly 80 cosponsors from both parties.
What the Major Richard Star Act Would Change
Under current law, many military members who are medically retired because of combat-related injuries before reaching 20 years of service see their military retired pay reduced by the amount of VA disability compensation they receive. These are known as Chapter 61 retirees. Supporters call the offset a "wounded veteran tax," a phrase used by advocates quoted in Stars and Stripes.
The Major Richard Star Act would end that offset for eligible combat-injured Chapter 61 retirees with fewer than 20 years of service, so they would receive both payments in full. Estimates of how many people qualify range from about 54,000 to roughly 60,000, depending on the source. Military.com reported that affected retirees lose an average of $2,275 a month in retired pay to the offset.
A Narrower Version Than the Original
The version set up for the floor is narrower than the bill first introduced. According to Military Times, the original H.R. 2102 also would have expanded Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay to more Chapter 61 retirees and removed a cap affecting some retirees with 20 or more years of service. The amended text drops both of those provisions and focuses only on ending the offset.
What the CBO Says It Would Cost
The Congressional Budget Office estimated in October that the amended version would increase direct spending by $12.75 billion over fiscal years 2027 through 2036. CBO's March estimate for the original, broader bill was $78.1 billion over 2026 through 2036. CBO also projected that eligible retirees would receive about $1,450 more per month in total compensation, according to Military.com's reading of the estimate.
The Rival Path: TCAVA Passes by Voice Vote
Also on Wednesday, the House passed H.R. 9237, the Take Care of America's Veterans Act, or TCAVA, by voice vote at about 2:46 p.m. Eastern, according to Military.com, citing the House Clerk's floor record. Because it was a voice vote, no individual positions were recorded. The package, sponsored by Bost, bundles more than 60 veterans measures and includes language from the Major Richard Star Act.
TCAVA would pay for its new benefits in part by changing how the VA rates two common conditions. Under Section 108, tinnitus generally would no longer receive a separate compensable rating, and a 50% rating for sleep apnea would require that treatment be ineffective or that the veteran be unable to use prescribed treatment. Military.com reported that these changes would apply only to claims filed after enactment and could not reduce compensation already being paid.
How Each Side Responded to the Major Richard Star Act Vote
Democrats. Takano urged colleagues to back the standalone Major Richard Star Act. "The 59,000 combat-injured veterans have waited long enough," he said, according to Military Times.
Republicans. House GOP leaders opposed the standalone discharge effort and backed the broader package instead. Bost told Stars and Stripes that "the Take Care of America's Veterans Act is the only viable path forward."
Veterans groups. The organizations are split over the two approaches. The Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America oppose TCAVA's tinnitus and sleep apnea provisions. VFW National Commander Cory Geisler said the package "should be dead on arrival in the Senate," according to Military.com. The American Legion and MOAA have supported the package, and Bonnie Carroll, founder of the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, welcomed the House vote and urged quick Senate action.
Administration. None of the reports reviewed for this article included a public position from the White House, the VA or the Pentagon on either bill.
What Comes Next in the Senate
The Senate has no discharge procedure. To pass, the Major Richard Star Act or TCAVA would likely need 60 votes to clear a filibuster, or unanimous consent. Previous attempts to pass the Major Richard Star Act by unanimous consent were blocked by individual Republican senators who raised cost concerns. Blumenthal's office said in June that Republicans had blocked it six times.
Time is short. As of November 9, Military Times counted 19 scheduled House session days and about 22 Senate days left in 2026. Bills that are not enacted before the 119th Congress ends in January 2027 expire and must be reintroduced. For background on the earlier House drive, see the official statement from Rep. Ruiz's office on the petition reaching 218 signatures.
What the Major Richard Star Act Means for You
For most households, the direct effect of the Major Richard Star Act is limited, but for combat-injured retirees it could be significant.
If You Are a Medically Retired Veteran
If you were medically retired with fewer than 20 years of service because of a combat-related disability, the Major Richard Star Act could restore retired pay that is now offset. Nothing changes until a bill is signed into law and the Defense Department issues guidance. In the meantime, keep copies of your retirement orders, your VA rating decision and any Combat-Related Special Compensation records, since eligibility will likely depend on those documents.
If You Have a Tinnitus or Sleep Apnea Claim
Under the version of TCAVA the House passed, the rating changes would apply only to claims filed after the law takes effect. Veterans who already receive compensation for these conditions would not see their payments reduced, according to Military.com. Anyone weighing whether to file a claim may want to talk with an accredited veterans service officer, since the final Senate version could differ.
For Taxpayers and the Budget
Our analysis: the CBO's $12.75 billion, 10-year estimate for the Major Richard Star Act is small relative to total federal spending, but it is the main reason some senators have objected. Watch whether the Senate takes up the standalone bill, the TCAVA package or a compromise attached to year-end legislation. Debates over federal benefits are also playing out in other programs, such as the Social Security trust fund.
This article is for information only and is not financial or legal advice.
Sources: Military.com (November 11 and 12, 2026); Military Times (November 9, 2026); Stars and Stripes (November 9, 2026); Poli Alert (November 12, 2026); House Republican Cloakroom vote schedule (repcloakroom.house.gov); Office of Rep. Raul Ruiz (ruiz.house.gov); Congressional Budget Office cost estimates as reported by Military Times and Military.com.
