House Passes Major Richard Star Act, 392-18

The U.S. House passed the Major Richard Star Act on November 12 by a vote of 392-18, advancing a bill that would end a retirement-pay offset for qualifying combat-injured veterans. The measure, H.R. 2102, now awaits action in the Senate, where its companion bill has not advanced.

The legislation would allow veterans medically retired because of qualifying combat-related injuries before completing 20 years of service to receive military retirement pay without reducing it by the amount of their Department of Veterans Affairs disability compensation. Under current rules, the disability payment generally offsets military retirement pay for this group.

The Congressional Budget Office estimated that the House-considered version would add $12.75 billion in direct federal outlays during fiscal years 2027 through 2036. The estimate also included $7.45 billion in spending subject to appropriation, which CBO described as transfers to the Military Retirement Fund that would have no net effect on federal spending.

CBO data cited in the estimate showed about 58,000 retirees in the eligible group received Combat-Related Special Compensation in September 2025. The agency projected that number...