FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 
March 4, 2026
Contact: Jerritt Lynn 
(425) 599-5570 | press@iava.org

Unfortunately, the U.S. Senate once again failed to advance the Major Richard Star Act. Ranking Member Blumenthal attempted to secure unanimous consent for passage of S. 1032 on the Senate floor, but was once again blocked from a vote, meaning this vital legislation did not receive the vote it deserved. This marks the second time this session that procedural opposition has prevented action on behalf of medically retired, combat-injured veterans.

IAVA stands firm as part of the Major Richard Star Act Alliance, which demands an end to the unfair offset that forces medically retired service members to forfeit portions of their retirement pay when they also receive disability compensation. This is not a matter of partisan politics; it is a matter of honoring our nation’s promise to those who sacrificed so much in service to this country.

Our community and allies in Congress have made clear that this legislation would restore fundamental fairness to more than 50,000 combat-wounded veterans who were forced out of uniform by injury and are now denied full benefits solely because they were wounded too soon or too severely to continue serving. The Major Richard Star Act reflects a basic principle: veterans earned both their retirement and their disability compensation, and they should not be penalized for having given everything they could.

While we are disappointed that the Senate did not move this legislation forward today, this outcome only strengthens our resolve. We will continue to press Congress to stop procedural games, hold substantive hearings, and bring the Major Richard Star Act to a vote. Our veterans deserve no less. We are encouraged by House Veterans Affairs Committee Ranking Member Takano asserting that the act will pass this Congress  after testimony by IAVA CEO Dr Kyleanne Hunter.

To our members:
Now is the time to make your voices heard. Contact your Senators and urge them to support the Major Richard Star Act and insist that it receive a vote. Share your stories, educate your communities, and engage in grassroots advocacy. Change does not come from silence; it comes from action. Together, we will honor our obligations to those who served and ensure that no veteran is left behind.

Click here to help take action!

About IAVA 
IAVA stands at the center of people, policy, and institutions to ensure that the lived experience of post-9/11 veterans is heard, measured, and acted on. We turn the experiences of post-9/11 veterans into evidence, use that evidence to shape policy, and work with institutions that serve veterans to ensure that policies become real in veterans’ lives. By convening veterans, researchers, and decision-makers, IAVA drives the changes needed to ensure America serves the newest generation of veterans. 

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