Rep. Takano Pushes Major Richard Star Act to End Benefit Offsets for Combat-Injured Veterans
The Major Richard Star Act is currently stuck in a House committee. A representative filed a motion on May 20, 2026, to force the bill out of committee for a vote, but it has not yet moved forward. Most bills like this do not receive a committee vote and do not advance.
This bill has massive support from veterans groups and many members of both parties, but its high cost makes it difficult to pass through the full Congress.
This bill’s path across every version that has carried it.
Scores run from -100 (strongly harmful) to +100 (strongly beneficial) for each group, combining impact, certainty, scope, and duration ratings of 1-5. How impact scoring works
Combat-injured veterans who were medically retired with fewer than 20 years of service currently lose a dollar of retirement pay for every dollar of disability compensation they receive. This bill would end that offset, allowing them to collect both benefits in full. For many of these veterans, this means hundreds or even thousands of additional dollars each month. The impact is life-changing for those affected, though it applies specifically to Chapter 61 disability retirees with combat-related disabilities and fewer than 20 years of service, which is a subset of the total veteran population.
“The retired pay of an eligible combat-related disabled uniformed services retiree, who is retired under chapter 61 of this title with fewer than 20 years of creditable service, is not subject to reduction under sections 5304 and 5305 of title 38.”
Motion to Discharge Committee filed by Mr. Takano. Petition No: 119-22. (<a href="https://clerk.house.gov/DischargePetition/2026052122">Discharge petition</a> text with signatures.)
Referred to the House Committee on Rules.
Submitted in House
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth endorsed the Major Richard Star Act during a Senate hearing, supporting the elimination of the 'wounded warrior tax' that reduces retirement pay for 54,000 combat-injured veterans who receive disability benefits.
Secretary Pete Hegseth threw his weight behind the Major Richard Star Act, which would grant full concurrent receipt of benefits to veterans medically retired due to combat injuries. The bill faces hurdles in the Senate over its estimated $11 billion cost.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee included a pledge to support the Major Richard Star Act, a bipartisan effort to restore full benefits to combat-injured veterans currently facing pay offsets.
No votes or related bills recorded for this bill yet.
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Major Richard Star Act
Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.