Nov 12, 2026
WASHINGTON — The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) celebrates today's overwhelming bipartisan passage of the Major Richard Star Act (H.R. 2102) in the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 392-18, marking a historic milestone in the fight to grant earned retirement benefits to combat-injured veterans.
The victory comes after years of relentless advocacy by VFW members, VFW Auxiliary members and veterans across the country, including more than 150 advocates who traveled to Washington, D.C., this week to meet directly with lawmakers and demand action on veterans' earned benefits.
“Today is a victory for every combat-injured veteran who has been forced to sacrifice a portion of their earned military retirement simply because they were wounded in service to our nation,” said VFW National Commander Cory Geisler. “This legislation has been a priority for the VFW for years, and today's overwhelming vote demonstrates what can happen when veterans stand together and refuse to give up. Our members and Auxiliary members who walked the halls of Congress this week, along with the thousands of advocates who called, emailed and met with their representatives across the country, made their voices heard. This victory belongs to them.”
The Major Richard Star Act would eliminate the unfair offset that prevents certain combat-injured veterans who were medically retired with fewer than 20 years of service from receiving both their full military retirement pay and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability compensation. Under current law, these veterans are required to forfeit a portion of their earned retirement pay because they also receive disability compensation for injuries sustained in combat.
For years, the VFW has maintained that military retirement pay and VA disability compensation serve two distinct purposes and that combat-injured veterans should not be penalized for injuries sustained in defense of the nation.
This week's House action followed a sustained nationwide grassroots campaign that brought VFW and Auxiliary members face-to-face with congressional leaders just days before the vote. Their efforts were reinforced by thousands of advocates nationwide who contacted lawmakers, signed petitions and demanded passage of the CLEAN, unamended standalone Major Richard Star Act.
The VFW also played a key role in advancing the discharge petition that ultimately forced the House to consider the legislation, demonstrating the impact of sustained advocacy and bipartisan cooperation.
“This is what grassroots advocacy looks like,” said Geisler. “Our members did not wait for Congress to act. They came to Washington, knocked on doors, made phone calls and demanded that lawmakers honor the promises made to those who served. And today, despite yesterday’s cowardly actions in the House to yank benefits from tomorrow’s veterans, the House listened. Today, House leaders had the moral courage to allow each member to put their name to this vote, and we commend each and every representative who stood by their word to right this wrong.”
While celebrating this significant achievement, the VFW emphasized that the legislation must still pass the Senate before it can become law, and implored all senators to not be fooled by the imposter version of the Major Richard Star Act included within the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act (TCAVA). The VFW will never accept a bill that seeks to fix an injustice for one group of veterans by creating an even greater injustice for those still serving.
“The House has taken an important step toward correcting a long-standing injustice, but our mission is not complete,” Geisler continued. “The Senate now has an opportunity to finish the job and deliver the relief combat-injured veterans have earned. We will not stop fighting until the real Major Richard Star Act is signed into law.”
The VFW thanks the members of Congress from both parties who supported the legislation and recognizes the dedication of the veterans, families and advocates whose persistence made today's historic vote possible.