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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 Puerto Rico’s lawmakers stand

Puerto Rico has no senators and is represented in the House by a non-voting resident commissioner, Pablo José Hernández, who is a cosponsor of the Star Act.

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Puerto Rico’s member of the House

Puerto Rico House members: Star Act cosponsorship and discharge petition signatures
DistrictMemberCosponsorDischarge petitionDischarge vote, Nov 11
PR (non-voting)Pablo José HernándezYes, since July 22, 2025No (non-voting member)Can’t vote on passage

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

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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