The House advances bipartisan legislation to end the wounded veteran tax for nearly 60,000 combat-injured veterans

WASHINGTON, Nov. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Wounded Warrior Project^® (WWP) today applauded the U.S. House of Representatives’ passage of the Major Richard Star Act (H.R. 2102).  

“We thank House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Mark Takano and Congressman Raul Ruiz for their efforts to advance the discharge petition, Congressman Gus Bilirakis for his longstanding commitment to the bipartisan Major Richard Star Act, and the members of the House of Representatives for taking an important step toward providing long-overdue relief for combat-injured veterans,” said WWP Senior Vice President of Government & Community Relations Jose Ramos. “For too long, these veterans have been forced to forfeit a portion of the retirement pay and disability compensation they earned through their service and sacrifice. Enactment of the Major Richard Star Act would finally end this unfair offset and provide the full benefits they deserve. WWP remains committed to working with leaders in both parties and across chambers to end the wounded veteran tax for those who sacrificed in service to our nation, and we urge the Senate to swiftly pass this legislation.”

• Federal law currently requires nearly 60,000 combat-injured Chapter 61 retirees with fewer than 20 years of service to forfeit a dollar of military retirement pay for every dollar of VA disability compensation they receive.  

• The Major Richard Star Act would eliminate this offset, commonly known as the wounded veteran tax, and allow eligible veterans to receive the retirement pay and disability compensation they have earned without the current offset. 

• The legislation is named in honor of Army Major Richard Star, a combat engineer who developed cancer linked to toxic exposure during deployments to the Middle East. His diagnosis forced him to medically retire before completing 20 years of service, reducing his military retirement pay by the amount of VA disability compensation he received. Major Star died nearly a year after the legislation was first introduced in February 2020. 

WWP^® leads the Star Act Alliance, a coalition of more than 25 organizations advocating for passage of the Major Richard Star Act. The legislation has remained WWP’s highest priority across multiple Congresses, supported through congressional testimony, meetings with lawmakers, grassroots advocacy campaigns, public awareness efforts, and warrior engagement.  

About Wounded Warrior Project  

Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) is the nation’s leading veterans service organization, focused on the total well-being of veterans, Service members, and their families. Our programs, advocacy, and awareness efforts help warriors thrive, provide essential lifelines to families and caregivers, and prevent veteran suicides. Learn more about Wounded Warrior Project.  

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SOURCE Wounded Warrior Project