54Kvets To Congress: Do Not Derail the Major Star Act This Veterans Day

Washington, D.C, District of Columbia Sep 30, 2026 (Issuewire.com) - As House members spend the October district work period ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, combat-injured veterans are issuing a warning: we know the parliamentary rules, we are tracking the legislative calendar, and we are holding incumbent lawmakers accountable for the Major Richard Star Act.

When the House reconvenes November 9--six days after Election Day and two days before Veterans Day--lawmakers will face a direct test.

The "Wounded Warrior Tax"

The national mobilization led by 54Kvets around the Major Richard Star Act (H.R. 2102) targets the "Wounded Warrior Tax." Under current law, service members medically retired before 20 years because of combat-related disabilities can face a dollar-for-dollar offset of military retired pay by VA disability compensation.

Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) restores part of that pay, but statutory limits leave many short of full retirement. A March 2026 Congressional Budget Office analysis estimated that the nearly 59,000 Chapter 61 retirees receiving CRSC in September 2025 would receive about $1,450 more per month on average under H.R. 2102.

The 218-Signature Milestone

By late September, the Major Richard Star Act had 420 cosponsors--340 House and 80 Senate--yet remained stalled in committee. On September 15, a discharge petition for H.Res. 1247 reached 218 signatures, placing the motion on the House Calendar of Motions to Discharge Committees as Calendar No. 8.

That does not create an automatic vote. Under House Rule XV:

• The motion must remain on the calendar for at least seven legislative days.

• A signer must announce an intention to offer the discharge motion.

• The Speaker must designate consideration within two legislative days.

• If the discharge motion passes, the House considers H.Res. 1247. If that passes, its terms provide for immediate consideration of H.R. 2102 under the specified substitute.

Veterans are tracking every legislative day. Once the seven-day requirement is satisfied, which signer will announce an intention to offer the motion and trigger the Speaker's scheduling requirement?

Alternative Proposals

Since June, committee leadership has promoted the Take Care of America's Veterans Act (TCAVA). On September 16, Rep. Victoria Spartz introduced H.R. 10463. Both use a "lesser of" calculation that can cap retirement restoration for some under-20-year combat retirees below the amount available under the H.Res. 1247 approach.

TCAVA also includes Section 108, which would change future VA disability ratings for sleep apnea and tinnitus claims filed after enactment. Sleep-apnea ratings would depend heavily on treatment responsiveness, while standalone compensable tinnitus ratings would generally be prohibited.

Pentagon figures indicate more than 750 U.S. troops were wounded in Middle East operations this year, with officials reporting most injuries were traumatic brain injuries. Research involving veterans and service members has linked TBI or blast exposure with sleep disorders, including sleep apnea, and tinnitus.

Both the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Disabled American Veterans formally oppose Section 108.

"Section 108 incorporates rating concepts VA proposed in 2022, but I also see it moving in the same direction as the Project 2025 VA chapter, which on page 650 calls for accelerated disability-rating reviews aimed at significant cost savings from future claimants," said Shane Junkert, a retired Navy Senior Chief, Chapter 61 combat-injured veteran, and organizer of 54Kveterans. "Incumbents seeking re-election in these midterms cannot ask for the veteran vote while backing proposals that write reductions for future sleep-apnea and tinnitus claims into law just to offset what is owed to combat retirees. This isn't just me saying this, go to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs GOP's Facebook page and read the comments. The Veteran majority is not happy with the Republican backed TCAVA plan."

The November Watchboard

During the October district work period, veterans are putting incumbents on the record before Election Day. When the House returns, 54Kvets will document observable floor action.

OCTOBER: House district work period ahead of the November 3 midterms.
NOV. 3: 2026 federal midterm elections.
NOV. 9: House scheduled to return for votes.
NOV. 11: Veterans Day.
218 SIGNATURES: Discharge motion placed on Calendar No. 8.

Veterans will monitor the Clerk's records, Discharge Calendar, and any Rules Committee or leadership action affecting the H.Res. 1247 route.

"Two hundred and eighteen members signed their names to bring this resolution forward," Junkert added. "We are watching to see which signers take the floor, who remains silent, and whether leadership uses procedural maneuvers to circumvent a clean vote. Do not ask for veterans' votes before Election Day and expect to stand in a Veterans Day parade on November 11 if you return to Washington two days earlier and remain silent while the Major Richard Star Act sits ready for action."

Combat-injured retirees are demanding transparency and a recorded vote on the Major Richard Star Act through the already-qualified H.Res. 1247 discharge process.

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