Press and media
We speak only for PassTheStarAct.org. For the positions of the Star Act Alliance or any veterans service organization, please contact them directly (links below).
About this campaign
PassTheStarAct.org is an independent, veteran-led grassroots campaign to pass the clean, standalone Major Richard Star Act. We’re run by a combat-injured, medically retired veteran. We don’t take money from anyone, run ads, or endorse candidates.
Fast facts
The clean, standalone Major Richard Star Act would let about 54,000–60,000 combat-injured veterans medically retired under Chapter 61 with fewer than 20 years of service receive both full retired pay and VA disability compensation.
Sources: MOAA · WWP (via House VA Committee Democrats) · Star Act Alliance
It doesn’t cut any other veteran’s benefits, and it isn’t retroactive: it starts the first month after it becomes law.
Source: GovInfo: H.Res. 1247 text
The discharge petition reached 218 signatures on September 15, 2026, which lets supporters force a House vote. A vote is expected after the House returns in November.
Sources: House Clerk: Discharge Petition No. 22 · Stars and Stripes, Sept. 16, 2026
The Star Act has about 340 House cosponsors and about 80 Senate cosponsors, from both parties (cosponsors of the bill as introduced).
Sources: Stars and Stripes, Sept. 16, 2026 · MOAA SITREP
CBO scored the introduced text at $78.1 billion over 2026–2036. CBO has not published a score for the discharge version yet; it estimated the earlier, similarly targeted 2023 version at about $10 billion in direct spending over ten years.
Sources: CBO estimate for H.R. 2102 · CBO estimate for H.R. 1282 (2023)
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told a Senate hearing in April 2026 that the Department supports the Star Act.
Sources: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee · The Hill
If Congress hasn’t passed it and sent it to the President by the time this Congress ends on January 3, 2027, it dies and must be reintroduced.
The three versions of the bill, and why the cost estimates differ: The Bill.
Timeline
The Major Richard Star Act is first introduced (H.R. 5995, 116th Congress). Source
Maj. Richard Star dies. Source
Tonya Star dies. Source
H.R. 2102 is introduced in the House. Source
The Senate companion, S. 1032, is announced. Source
A Senate unanimous-consent request to pass the bill is blocked by objection. Source
Another Senate unanimous-consent request is blocked. Source
Defense Secretary Hegseth says the Department supports the Star Act. Source
H.Res. 1247, the resolution that brings the clean, standalone Star Act to the floor, is introduced. Source
Discharge Petition No. 22 is filed by Reps. Mark Takano (D-CA) and Raul Ruiz (D-CA). Source
Senate unanimous-consent requests are blocked again (June 9 and 17). Source
The Take Care of America’s Veterans Act (H.R. 9237), a 62-bill package with a Star Act section, is introduced. Source
House leaders pull the package just before a final vote. Source
Military Times reports on the gap between the bill’s intent and CBO’s $78.1 billion reading of the introduced text. Source
The discharge petition reaches 218 signatures. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) provides the final signature. Source
The House leaves for its pre-election recess. Source
Now · Next step
The discharge motion must wait seven legislative days before a petition signer can call it up. A vote is expected after the House returns in November.
· Ahead
Midterm elections.
· Ahead
The House is expected to return after the election. Source
· Ahead
The 119th Congress ends. Bills that haven’t passed both chambers and gone to the President die. Source
Local angles
- Stories by state: consented submissions from veterans and families, published as they’re reviewed and filterable by state.
- Where each member of Congress stands, by state and district.
Downloads
Logo files
- Horizontal wordmark, navy on light: SVG · PNG
- Horizontal wordmark, light on navy: SVG · PNG
- Stacked wordmark, navy on light: SVG · PNG
- Stacked wordmark, light on navy: SVG · PNG
- Star mark, navy on light: SVG · PNG
- Star mark, light on navy: SVG · PNG
When using our logo, please identify us as “PassTheStarAct.org, an independent, veteran-led campaign.”
Other expert sources
Listed as sources for reporters, not as partners. They don’t speak for us, and we don’t speak for them.