26 statements · 13 Republicans, 13 Democrats
What lawmakers have said
Senators and representatives from both parties, in their own words. Every quote is copied exactly from the lawmaker’s own press release or floor remarks, with a link and date.
Quoting a lawmaker doesn’t mean they endorse this campaign. Statements are listed by state, not by party. Missing someone? These are the statements we could verify on lawmakers’ own websites; we add more as we find them.
Senate
“We can find the billion dollars to take care of veterans. It’s bipartisan. It has huge support, and there’s no reason why it’s become political to the point where it’s getting stopped”
Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ)
Press release on remarks at a VFW post, May 7, 2026
“Veterans medically retired by injuries sustained in combat are heroes who have earned their full benefits and compensation.”
Sen. John Boozman (R-AR)
Press release on reintroducing the bill, April 7, 2025
“Our bipartisan bill is an important step toward ensuring our brave veterans are treated with dignity and fairness.”
Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO)
Press release on introducing the bill, March 18, 2025
“It is unacceptable that tens of thousands of combat-injured veterans are denied the full military benefits they earned.”
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
Joint press release on introducing S. 1032, March 18, 2025
“The brave men and women who were injured in combat to protect this great country deserve the full benefits that they rightfully earned. Today, I am proud to stand with this bipartisan group of colleagues as a cosponsor of the Major Richard Star Act.”
Sen. Ashley Moody (R-FL)
Press release on cosponsoring, June 12, 2025
“The Major Richard Star Act ensures our veterans receive the full benefits they’ve earned through their service and sacrifice protecting our nation regardless of length of service.”
Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL)
Joint press release on introducing S. 1032, March 18, 2025
“Our veterans made significant sacrifices for our freedoms. Penalizing their retirement benefits due to injuries they incurred during their honorable service to our country is unacceptable”
Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID)
Press release on introducing the bill, March 24, 2025
“Though the namesake of our legislation is no longer with us, I continue to press for its passage on behalf of the more than 50,000 veterans, including hundreds in Idaho, who stand to benefit.”
Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID)
Joint press release on introducing S. 1032, March 18, 2025
“No veteran in my mind should have their retirement, that they earned, decreased because they also were eligible for disability compensation due to an injury they sustained during their military service”
Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS)
Senate floor remarks, via the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, March 3, 2026
“I’m proud to help introduce the Major Richard Star Act to make sure that Louisiana’s and America’s brave veterans are able to receive retirement benefits and disability compensation”
Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA)
Press release on helping introduce the bill, March 25, 2025
“We owe combat-injured veteran retirees their full benefits, and this bipartisan legislation does just that. These critical benefits were earned by veterans’ service. We owe it to them to get this passed”
Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD)
Press release on reintroducing the bill, May 21, 2025
“The Major Richard Star Act will ensure the federal government keeps its promise to our veterans by allowing them to collect both disability and retirement benefits they earned, even if combat injuries forced them to retire early.”
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Joint press release on introducing S. 1032, March 18, 2025
“It’s simply unfair to withhold full VA disability and military retirement benefits to veterans forced into early retirement because of service-connected disabilities”
Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS)
Press release as an original cosponsor, March 27, 2025
“We need to right this wrong, which is why I’m helping introduce a bipartisan bill to make sure veterans who were injured in combat can receive their full disability and retirement pay.”
Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
Press release on helping introduce the bill, March 24, 2025
“The men and women who risked their lives for our country and were injured in combat deserve the full benefits they have earned.”
Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM)
Press release on introducing the bill, March 19, 2025
House
“Combat-injured veterans shouldn't have to choose between the retirement they earned and the disability compensation they're owed.”
Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA)
House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Democrats release, September 16, 2026
“The Major Richard Star Act would repeal the unjust law that stands in the way of veterans receiving the military retirement pay and service-connected disability compensation that they have rightfully earned.”
Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-CA)
Press release on introducing H.R. 2102, March 17, 2025
“The brave men and women who return from serving our country should be able to receive the benefits promised to them. Military retirement pay and service-connected disability compensation are two completely different benefits.”
Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL)
Press release on introducing H.R. 2102, March 17, 2025
“This bipartisan legislation will ensure that when a Veteran has to retire early due to combat or combat-related injuries, they receive both their disability benefits and the full retirement pay that they have rightfully earned.”
Rep. Russ Fulcher (R-ID)
Press release on cosponsoring H.R. 2102, May 11, 2026
“Retirement pay is earned through their years of honorable service and disability compensation is intended to address the lasting physical and mental costs of that service. These are essential benefits our veterans should never be forced to choose between”
Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY)
Press release urging passage, April 23, 2026
“By the way, just for the record, there is a discharge petition that has been filed to basically bring the Major Richard Star Act to the floor without cutting other benefits for veterans.”
Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA)
House floor remarks, Congressional Record, July 14, 2026
“The bipartisan Major Richard Star Act corrects a gross injustice for thousands of combat-injured veterans who are seeing their benefits drastically reduced”
Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH)
Press release on signing the discharge petition, May 21, 2026
“These veterans earned both benefits through their service and sacrifice, and they should not be forced to choose between them.”
Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ)
Press release calling for passage, July 17, 2026
“Veterans who have been injured on the frontlines are patriots who have risked it all for our country, and they deserve full and fair compensation”
Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-NM)
Press release on supporting the bill, May 28, 2026
“The Major Richard Star Act is about ensuring combat-injured veterans receive the full retirement and disability benefits they earned through their service.”
Rep. Don Davis (D-NC)
Press release on a veterans roundtable, May 29, 2026
“Combat-injured veterans have waited long enough. It's time to bring the Major Richard Star Act to the floor and let Congress vote.”
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC)
Press release on signing the discharge petition, September 16, 2026
In the news
The latest coverage. Links go to the original articles.
- House advances veterans’ disability and retirement bill
WORLD · November 11, 2026
- House Passes Sweeping TCAVA Veterans Benefits Bill Despite Disability Pay Concerns
Military.com · November 11, 2026
- What Richard Star Act Means for Veterans With House Set to Vote
Newsweek · November 10, 2026
- House maneuver clears path for vote on Major Richard Star Act
Military Times · November 9, 2026
- House Democratic lawmaker forces floor vote on the Major Richard Star Act
Stars and Stripes · November 9, 2026
All coverage, local and national · Ask your local news to cover it
Statements checked against their sources as of November 11, 2026. See where every member stands, or how the bill got here.
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