Ruiz Leads Call to Pass the Major Richard Star Act by Veterans Day
Washington, D.C. - November 9, 2026 - Today, Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz (CA-25), Lead Democratic on the Major Richard Star Act (H.R. 2102), held a press conference with House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39) to demand passage of the bill by Veterans Day. The bill ends the “wounded veteran tax,” the offset that takes a dollar of retirement pay from combat-wounded, medically retired veterans for every dollar of VA disability compensation they receive.
“Combat-wounded veterans who were forced to medically retire are being shortchanged by the VA,” said Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz (CA-25). “For every dollar in VA disability compensation these veterans receive, a dollar is taken out of their retirement pay. Our veterans deserve respect, they do NOT deserve to be treated like a burdensome, expendable line item in a budget. That is why I am proud to co-author the Major Richard Star Act, which ends this unfair offset. Our veterans stood up for us. Now we must stand up for them. I urge Speaker Johnson to bring it up for a vote and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote yes.”
Ruiz thanked Ranking Member Takano for his Herculean effort to secure the final signatures on the discharge petition and force a vote. He thanked the veterans service organizations for standing with combat-wounded veterans every step of the way.
“Veterans, we have heard your call for action, and we are ready to help deliver relief. For 59,000 combat-injured veterans, relief has been long overdue, but House Democrats have worked tirelessly to change that. In just five months, we secured the necessary support to discharge the rules and bring the Major Richard Star Act to the House floor for a final vote. We are closer than ever; now is the moment to finish the job. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to act swiftly so we can deliver this critical support before Veterans Day,” said Ranking Member Takano.
Tens of thousands of veterans lose about $14,400 a year, according to the Military Officers Association of America.
At the press conference, Ruiz shared the story of Daniel Hinojosa Jr., who served nine years in the U.S. Army and deployed to Iraq three times. He came home with injuries to his brain, back, neck, and knees. Medically retired in 2011, he was told he had to choose between his VA disability compensation and the Army retirement he earned. Today, Daniel is earning his master’s in social work and interning in Ruiz’s Beaumont office, helping other veterans.
Ruiz and Takano introduced the resolution to begin the discharge petition process on April 30. The petition reached the required 218 signatures on September 15. Separately, the bill has 340 bipartisan cosponsors in the House and 80 in the Senate.
Click here to watch the full Press Release:https://www.youtube.com/live/gdZ0TSkb55A?si=YFnbF1VjFHrGuN1z&t=371