Congressman Bishop Votes to End Penalty on Combat-Wounded Veterans

November 13, 2026 Press Release Major Richard Star Act passes House 392–18 WASHINGTON – Yesterday, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) voted for the Major Richard Star Act (H.R. 2102). The bill fixes an unfair rule that cuts the pay of veterans who were wounded in combat. It passed the House, 392 to 18, with strong support from both parties and now goes to the Senate. Congressman Bishop is a senior member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs. The problem is simple. Many veterans who serve a full 20-year career receive both their military retirement and their VA disability pay. Receiving both at the same time is known as “concurrent receipt.” But when a servicemember is wounded in combat and forced to medically retire before reaching 20 years, the law cuts their pay. They cannot receive both in full. In effect, they are penalized because they were hurt while serving their country. The Major Richard Star Act ends that penalty by extending full concurrent receipt to these combat-wounded veterans. They could keep their current arrangement or choose to receive their full retirement pay and their full disability pay, whichever works best for them and their families. About 58,000 veterans would benefit. “If you were wounded fighting for this country, you should not lose pay because of it,” said Congressman Bishop . “These veterans earned their retirement and they earned their disability compensation. Middle and Southwest Georgia is home to thousands of veterans and military families, and they understand that a promise made should be a promise kept.” House Republican leaders had kept the bill from getting a vote. Members of both parties, including Congressman Bishop, signed a discharge petition, a rule that lets a majority of the House force a vote, and the House voted on the bill yesterday. Republican leaders had pushed a separate package instead. It included part of the Star Act but paid for it by cutting at least $57 billion in disability compensation for future veterans. Congressman Bishop opposed that approach. The bill is named for Army Reserve Major Richard Star. He was medically retired after combat service and fought for this change while battling cancer. He died in 2021 at age 51. ### Issues : Military, Veterans, & National Security Veterans