DISCHARGE PETITION HITS 218 SIGNATURES ON MAJOR RICHARD STAR ACT, VOTE NOW AWAITS HOUSE'S RETURN IN NOVEMBER

Washington, D.C. — On May 21, 2026, Reps. Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-25) and Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39) filed a discharge petition forcing a vote on the Major Richard Star Act. After months of work to build majority support in the House, the petition reached the 218 signatures needed to guarantee a floor vote, a milestone made possible by sustained pressure from veteran service organizations, combat-injured veterans, and lawmakers who refused to give up on the legislation.c

"It's official, we did it! We reached 218 signatures, and veterans just won a floor vote on my bipartisan Major Richard Star Act. I want to congratulate my partner in this fight, Ranking Member Mark Takano, for his tireless leadership in getting us here," said Rep. Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-25).

Reaching 218 signatures freezes the petition and places the discharge motion on the House Calendar, where it must sit for seven legislative days before it can be called up. But with the House now in recess, that window will not open until Members return in November. When it does, a signer can bring the motion to the floor, and if adopted, the House proceeds directly to a vote on the Major Richard Star Act.

"While this is a victory worth celebrating, the fight continues to deliver justice for our veterans, who for years have lived with the injustice of being forced to medically retire due to combat-related injuries, penalized and unable to receive both their disability compensation and their retirement pay in full. With this bipartisan bill, it is time for Congress to show our veterans that their sacrifice was not in vain and that we are here to support them." said Rep. Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-25).

"218 signatures mean the House has spoken. A majority of Members, Democrats and Republicans, said enough is enough," said Ranking Member Takano (CA-39). "Combat-injured veterans shouldn't have to choose between the retirement they earned and the disability compensation they're owed. The time for that debate is over."

"It's past time to eliminate the 'wounded veteran tax' that reduces the benefits that our veterans earn with their service and sacrifice," said Rep. Chris Pappas (NH-01), a resolution cosponsor and Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. "We're working hard to get this across the finish line and see it become law before the end of the year, and I'm thrilled to see our discharge petition reach 218 signatures. I thank our veterans for speaking out and for their leadership on this issue. We're making sure Congress steps up and does our part by forcing a vote in the House, and we'll keep fighting until this bill finally becomes law."

Veteran service organizations have pushed for years for the bill's passage, calling the current offset an injustice that punishes veterans for the severity of their combat injuries.

"This milestone is the result of veterans and their advocates refusing to let this issue fade away," said VFW National Commander-in-Chief Cory Geisler. "The VFW thanks Ranking Member Mark Takano for introducing this petition, every Member who signed this bipartisan effort, and Representative Nancy Mace for providing the 218th signature. The VFW will continue working with Congress until the Major Richard Star Act reaches the finish line."

"This is what veterans' advocacy looks like, not a bill developed behind closed doors, with harmful and unacceptable trade-offs," said Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America CEO Dr. Kyleanne Hunter. "We are looking forward to the House bringing the Major Richard Star Act to the floor as a clean stand-alone bill that will provide long-overdue benefits to tens of thousands of veterans."

"With 340 bipartisan cosponsors, it's clear the bill has enough support to pass," said DAV (Disabled American Veterans). "No more delays. It's time for action."

Background: The Major Richard Star Act

H.R. 2102 was introduced on March 14, 2025, by Rep. Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-25) and Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL). The bill now has 340 cosponsors in the House and 80 in the Senate. The bill amends federal law to eliminate the dollar-for-dollar offset for Chapter 61 disability retirees with combat-related disabilities, allowing them to receive both their military retired pay and VA disability compensation in full, just as all other retired veterans do. Tens of thousands of combat-injured veterans who were medically retired before completing 20 years of service currently forfeit part of their retirement pay to receive VA disability compensation under this offset.

The bill is named for Major Richard A. Star, a decorated Army combat veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and was medically retired due to combat-related injuries. When Major Star was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer, he devoted his remaining time to fighting for the tens of thousands of veterans impacted by this offset. Before he passed on February 13, 2021, he asked his wife Tonya to carry on that fight alongside Congress. This legislation honors his courage, his family's sacrifice, and his enduring commitment to his fellow veterans.

The bill is endorsed by a broad coalition of veteran service organizations, including the Wounded Warrior Project, Disabled American Veterans, Military Officers Association of America, the VFW, The American Legion, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, and The Military Coalition.

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