Pappas-Backed Major Richard Star Act Discharge Petition Hits 218, Forces Vote to Correct Injustice for Veterans

September 16, 2026 Press Release Following the Major Richard Star Act ’s discharge petition hitting its necessary 218 signatures , Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), a member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee (HVAC) and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, released the following statement: “It’s past time to eliminate the ‘wounded veteran tax’ that reduces the benefits that our veterans earn with their service and sacrifice,” said Congressman Pappas. "We're working hard to get this across the finish line and see it become law before the end of the year, and I’m thrilled to see our discharge petition reach 218 signatures. I thank our veterans for speaking out and for their leadership on this issue. We’re making sure Congress steps up and does our part by forcing a vote in the House, and we’ll keep fighting until this bill finally becomes law.” Pappas was the third member to sign a discharge petition for the Major Richard Star Act , and has been a cosponsor every Congress since being elected in 2019. This legislation currently has 330 cosponsors and would end the “wounded veteran tax”, or the offset that keeps medically retired veterans from receiving their full Department of Defense retirement pay and their full Veterans Affairs disability pay. The discharge petition was filed by House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39) and Congressman Raul Ruiz (CA-25). "218 signatures means the House has spoken. A majority of members, Democrats and Republicans, said enough is enough," said Ranking Member Takano. "Combat-injured veterans shouldn't have to choose between the retirement they earned and the disability compensation they're owed. The time for that debate is over. The only person standing between these veterans and their money now is Speaker Johnson, and he's out of excuses." "It's official—we did it! We reached 218 signatures, and veterans just won a floor vote on my bipartisan Major Richard Star Act," said Congressman Ruiz. "While this is a victory worth celebrating, the fight continues to deliver justice for our veterans, who for years have lived with the injustice of being forced to medically retire due to combat-related injuries, penalized and unable to receive both their disability compensation and their retirement pay in full. Now, the real work begins with this bipartisan bill, it is time for Congress to show our veterans that their sacrifice was not in vain and that we are here to support them." The Major Richard Star Act is supported by Veterans of Foreign Wars, The American Legion, Wounded Warrior Project, Disabled American Veterans, and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, and a number of other Veterans Service Organizations. In June Pappas joined Ranking Member Takano, Congressman Ruiz, along with Major Richard Star's brother, David Star and Veterans’ Service Organizations for a bipartisan press conference on the Major Richard Star Act discharge petition. Issues : Veterans