For Immediate Release 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) applauds the U.S. House of Representatives for passing H.R. 2102, the Major Richard Star Act (MRSA), marking a monumental victory for combat-injured veterans and the military and veterans service organizations that have fought tirelessly for more than half a decade to advance this critical legislation. 

This bipartisan passage reflects not only overwhelming congressional support for correcting a longstanding injustice affecting combat-injured veterans, but also the extraordinary power of a veterans community united behind a common goal. For years, organizations across the country have stood in lockstep solidarity, demanding that veterans forced into medical retirement because of combat-related injuries receive both the military retirement pay they earned and the VA disability compensation they deserve. 

“The passage of MRSA in the House is a tremendous victory for our combat-injured veterans and for the entire veterans community that has refused to give up on them,” said Dr. Kyleanne Hunter, CEO of IAVA. “For years, we have been told that delivering this long-overdue correction was simply too expensive or too difficult. Yet here we are, with overwhelming bipartisan support and a united veterans community proving what is possible when Congress puts veterans ahead of politics. And perhaps most importantly, this victory demonstrates that we do not have to take benefits away from some veterans to deliver justice for others. Our veterans are not a political bargaining tool or a fiscal offset. That should never have been the choice in the first place.” 

The bill’s passage also underscores the importance of congressional leadership, persistence, and true democratic process. After years of inaction, Ranking Member Mark Takano successfully advanced the legislation through the House discharge petition process, securing the necessary 218 signatures, including support from Republican lawmakers, to bring the measure to the House floor. 

IAVA extends its sincere gratitude to Ranking Member Takano, the bipartisan Members of Congress who supported this effort, and the countless military and veterans service organizations, advocates, and combat-injured veterans whose tireless work finally made this milestone possible. 

With the Congressional Budget Office’s updated cost estimate of approximately $12.75 billion, a fraction of the previously cited $78 billion estimate, one of the most frequently cited obstacles to passage has been substantially diminished. 

The House has now done its part, now the Senate must make its priorities clear. Rather than advancing the deeply contentious and widely opposed Take Care of America’s Veterans Act (TCAVA), the Senate has the opportunity to prioritize legislation that veterans and a united veterans community have spent years demanding and back fully. The Major Richard Star Act has earned overwhelming bipartisan support, and its passage should not be held hostage to efforts to advance unrelated, controversial provisions that come at the expense of veterans’ earned benefits. 

IAVA calls on Senate leadership to pass the standalone Major Richard Star Act before the end of the year. Congress now has a unique opportunity to deliver a meaningful victory for combat-injured veterans without taking benefits away from others.  

About IAVA: IAVA is the premier evidence-based advocacy organization for America’s post-9/11 veterans. Member-driven and grounded in rigorous research, we pursue policy change with the same courage our members brought to service. 

Contact Information:  

Ryan Coverdell 
Communications Associate 
Email: press@iava.org