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The House voted 245–175 to move the Star Act forward. Ask your representative to vote YES on what comes next.Home for Thanksgiving? Talk about the Star Act at the table.

About 20 scheduled Senate session days left this year · This Congress ends Jan. 3, 2027 (52 days)Why the clock matters

Facts last checked November 11, 2026

Where Massachusetts’s lawmakers stand

Both of Massachusetts’s senators are cosponsors. 7 of its 9 House members back the bill, and all signed the discharge petition that forces a House vote.

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Not on record yet: ask them first

These 2 members of Congress from Massachusetts aren’t cosponsors of the Star Act. That doesn’t mean they oppose it, and every one of them can still vote YES. A call from a constituent is how they hear it matters.

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Massachusetts’s senators

The Senate acts after the House. The ask for senators: “When the House passes the clean Star Act, will you pass it without changes before this Congress ends on January 3, 2027, and vote NO on the H.R. 9237 package, which cuts future veterans’ benefits to pay for its version?”

Massachusetts’s House members

Massachusetts House members: Star Act cosponsorship and discharge petition signatures
DistrictMemberCosponsorDischarge petitionDischarge vote, Nov 11
MA-1Richard E. NealYes, since April 7, 2025Signed May 21, 2026Yea
MA-2James P. McGovernYes, since March 14, 2025Signed May 21, 2026Yea
MA-3Lori TrahanYes, since March 14, 2025Signed May 21, 2026Yea
MA-4Jake AuchinclossNot yetSigned May 21, 2026Yea
MA-5Katherine M. ClarkNot yetSigned May 21, 2026Yea
MA-6Seth MoultonYes, since March 14, 2025Signed May 21, 2026Not Voting
MA-7Ayanna PressleyYes, since June 3, 2026Signed June 9, 2026Yea
MA-8Stephen F. LynchYes, since March 25, 2025Signed May 21, 2026Yea
MA-9William R. KeatingYes, since March 14, 2025Signed May 21, 2026Yea

Signing the discharge petition is a separate procedural step. Many cosponsors who didn’t sign it still support the bill.

In their words

From Massachusetts members’ own press releases, quoted word for word. Quoting a lawmaker doesn’t mean they endorse this campaign.

  • “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

  • “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

Why it matters

Combat-injured veterans medically retired before 20 years of service are denied their full retired pay because they also receive VA disability compensation. The clean, standalone Star Act would fix that for about 54,000–60,000 combat-injured veterans medically retired under Chapter 61 with fewer than 20 years of service, without cutting any other veteran’s benefits.

The discharge petition reached 218 signatures on September 15, 2026, which lets supporters force a House vote. On November 11, the House voted 245–175 to discharge H.Res. 1247, the resolution that brings the clean, standalone Star Act to the floor. After debate, a voice vote on the resolution went against it, a recorded vote was demanded, and the House postponed that vote. If the House adopts the resolution, it then debates and votes on the bill.

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.

What the bill does · Who qualifies · National status

Source: House Clerk: Discharge Petition No. 22

Cosponsor data from Congress.gov, as of November 11, 2026.

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