Path Forward

S.Amdt. 4056 to H.R. 4016 — A Path to Passage

Senate Amendment 4056 to H.R. 4016 is a critical step forward in finally passing the Major Richard Star Act.

Rather than waiting for the bill to pass on its own, this amendment adds the Major Richard Star Act directly into H.R. 4016, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act — a must-pass funding bill.

Why This Matters

Defense appropriations bills must pass to fund the military
Including the Star Act language gives it a real, immediate path to becoming law
Senators who already support the Major Richard Star Act can now honor that commitment by cosponsoring and voting YES on this amendment

What We’re Asking

Senators who cosponsor the Major Richard Star Act should honor their commitment and also cosponsor S.Amdt. 4056
Leadership must allow the amendment to receive a vote on the Senate floor
Veterans and supporters should contact their Senators and urge them to act

In Simple Terms

Major Richard Star Act
Fixes an unfair law so combat-injured veterans can receive the retirement pay they earned and the disability compensation they deserve.
S.Amdt. 4056 to H.R. 4016
The fastest and strongest path to passing the Major Richard Star Act by attaching it to a must-pass defense funding bill.

MAJOR RICHARD STAR ACT

The Major Richard Star Act is bipartisan legislation designed to fix an unjust policy often referred to as the “wounded veteran tax.”

Under current law, many combat-injured veterans who are medically retired with fewer than 20 years of serviceare forced to give up their earned military retirement pay, dollar-for-dollar, in order to receive VA disability compensation.

This Act would correct that injustice.

What the Act Does

Allows eligible combat-injured medical retirees to receive both full military retired pay and full VA disability compensation
Ends the unfair offset that penalizes veterans for being wounded in combat
Ensures retirement pay reflects years of service, while disability compensation reflects sacrifices made

Why It Matters

Affects more than 54,000 combat-wounded veterans
Restores financial stability to families who were forced into early retirement due to service-connected injuries
Honors the service and sacrifice of those injured in defense of our nation

The Act is named after Major Richard Star, an Army combat veteran who was medically retired due to service-connected injuries and later died from burn-pit-related illness.