If a service member gets wounded in combat and medically retired before 20 years of service. the government currently takes away their retirement check. The
#MajorRichardStar Act stops that and restores what they earned
The Major Richard Star Act has been in Congress since 2020, reintroduced in four consecutive sessions, gained majority bipartisan support twice, even received an official committee report in 2023 — but Congress leadership has refused to allow a floor vote every single time, and in 2025 Senator Wicker objected to the vote when it was attempted.
🇺🇸 What Is the Major Richard Star Act? (Plain Language)
The Major Richard Star Act is a bill that would give medically retired combat veterans the full retirement pay they earned — without having it taken away because they also receive VA disability compensation.
Right now, if a service member is wounded in combat and medically retired with less than 20 years, the government subtracts their VA disability pay from their military retirement check.
👉 This is called "offset" or "double-dipping penalty."
👉 It only affects combat-wounded veterans who were forced out early — NOT 20-year retirees.
The Major Richard Star Act would end that penalty, letting 54,000 medically retired combat veterans receive both:
Their full earned military retirement, AND
Their VA disability pay (which is compensation for wounds — not income)
🎖 Why It Matters
Combat injuries ended their careers early — they didn’t get the chance to reach 20 years like healthy retirees
20-year retirees already get both payments (CRDP) — even if they never saw combat
Combat-wounded who were forced out early get LESS than someone who simply completed 20 years with no injuries
👉 The bill simply gives combat-wounded veterans EQUAL treatment — nothing extra.
This is Year 5 across 4 consecutive Congresses
Majority support has existed since 2022 — Congress leadership has refused to allow a vote
Official committee advancement occurred ONLY ONCE — July 18, 2023 (House Armed Services Report H. Rept. 118-149)
October 8, 2025 — ONE objection (Roger Wicker) prevented immediate Senate vote
📜 MAJOR RICHARD STAR ACT — COMPLETE CONGRESSIONAL TIMELINE
116th Congress (2019–2020) — FIRST INTRODUCTION
Bill: H.R. 5995 (House only)
Introduced: February 27, 2020 by Rep. Gus Bilirakis
Referred to: House Armed Services Committee and Veterans’ Affairs Committee
Further Action: Sent to Subcommittee on Disability Assistance & Memorial Affairs on March 9, 2020
❌ No hearing, no markup, no floor vote — bill died in committee
117th Congress (2021–2022) — MAJORITY COSPONSORSHIP, STILL NO VOTE
Bills:
H.R. 1282 (House) — Introduced Feb 24, 2021
S. 344 (Senate) — Introduced Feb 22, 2021
Support Level:
H.R. 1282 reached 335 House cosponsors — a full majority
Officially placed on the House Consensus Calendar (Oct 25, 2022) — which only happens when a bill has overwhelming support
❌ Despite majority support and calendar eligibility, no floor vote was ever scheduled — bill expired without action
118th Congress (2023–2024) — FIRST OFFICIAL COMMITTEE REPORT
Bills:
H.R. 1282 — Reintroduced March 1, 2023
S. 344 — Reintroduced February 9, 2023
Key Change:
July 18, 2023 — House Armed Services Committee issued formal report H. Rept. 118-149 (Part I)
The bill was placed on the Union Calendar (No. 117) — this is the FIRST TIME the bill officially advanced on record
Support Level:
326 cosponsors in the House
~74 cosponsors in the Senate
❌ Still never brought to the House or Senate floor — no vote held despite overwhelming bipartisan support
119th Congress (2025–2026) — CURRENT STATUS | SENATE BLOCKED FLOOR VOTE
Bills:
H.R. 2102 (House) — Introduced March 14, 2025
S. 1032 (Senate) — Introduced March 13, 2025
House Action:
Referred to Armed Services and Veterans’ Affairs Committees
Sent to Subcommittee on Disability Assistance & Memorial Affairs — April 4, 2025
Senate Action / Blocked Vote — CRITICAL EVENT:
October 8, 2025 — Senator Blumenthal requested UNANIMOUS CONSENT to fast-track a vote
Senator Roger Wicker objected, blocking both the immediate vote AND a proposed 60-vote threshold agreement before Dec 31, 2025
🔴 RESULT: ONE SENATOR OBJECTION STOPPED THE VOTE FOR ALL 54,000 MEDICALLY RETIRED COMBAT VETERANS
🕐 As of late 2025 — No floor vote scheduled. Bill remains stalled in committee.