The Major Richard Star Act remained in committee in October 2026. Read how eligible Chapter 61 retirees can navigate existing CRSC claims and DD Form 2860.
As of October 3, 2026, the Major Richard Star Act had not become law. A detailed explainer published by Military Toolkit reported that the proposed legislation remained in committee. Neither the House of Representatives nor the Senate had voted on the respective bills by that date. The House version of the legislation is officially designated as H.R. 2102.
Representative Gus Bilirakis introduced the House bill on March 14, 2025. The legislation was referred to the House Armed Services and Veterans' Affairs committees immediately upon introduction. Listed congressional actions show the bill was subsequently referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. This subcommittee referral took place on April 4, 2025.
The Senate companion bill is designated as S. 1032. The primary focus of the legislation is altering the current rules around concurrent receipt for medically retired service members. Veterans looking for practical insights on military health and wellness should clearly understand the distinction between proposed legislative changes and active benefit programs. Legislative proposals require complete passage before they can alter any existing financial realities.
The core purpose of the legislation is to fundamentally change how compensation works for covered combat-injured Chapter 61 retirees. These are individuals who retired for medical reasons with fewer than 20 years of creditable service. Under current federal law, many of these veterans face a mandatory reduction in their military retired pay. This reduction is directly associated with their receipt of VA disability compensation.
The office of Representative Raul Ruiz described the bill as a direct measure to eliminate this dollar-for-dollar offset. This particular offset has long been a major topic of concern in veteran lifestyle and healthcare resources. The proposed statutory change would allow covered veterans to receive both payments concurrently. Removing the mandatory reduction would materially change the monthly financial outcomes for eligible medically retired veterans.
Some notable procedural movement did occur in the House of Representatives during September 2026. A motion to discharge H.Res. 1247 from the House Rules Committee was formally filed on September 15. Congress assigned this resolution to the Discharge Calendar to potentially advance the consideration of H.R. 2102. The Military Officers Association of America reported that the discharge petition successfully reached 218 signatures.
MOAA characterized this significant milestone as bringing a House vote much closer to reality. The organization also explicitly cautioned that this procedural step did not guarantee an immediate floor vote. The legislative outlook for the Senate companion bill remained uncertain at the time of the report. Prior attempts to pass the standalone bill in the Senate by unanimous consent had been previously rejected.
The legislative data surrounding the Major Richard Star Act highlights a contrast between strong official sponsorship and ongoing procedural hurdles. Military Toolkit and Representative Raul Ruiz's office both reported substantial support numbers for the companion bills. The reports noted 340 House cosponsors for H.R. 2102 and 80 Senate cosponsors for S. 1032. These figures reflect exceptionally high official sponsorship rates across both legislative chambers.
However, Military Toolkit explicitly warns that cosponsor totals do not equal guaranteed floor votes. The bills must still advance through the complete and complex legislative process to actually become law. In addition to tracking legislative figures, the explainer breaks down the financial formulas related to existing Combat-Related Special Compensation. The article describes a specific formula limit for Chapter 61 retirees with fewer than 20 years of military service.
This calculation limits the total amount of CRSC plus any retired pay remaining after the VA offset. The basic formula limit is calculated using 2.5 percent multiplied by creditable years of service multiplied by the retired-pay base. For service members retiring under the Blended Retirement System, the initial multiplier changes to 2.0 percent. The explainer treats these figures as strict formula limits rather than broad promises of individual payment amounts.
These metrics offer clear mathematical boundaries for current compensation expectations while the proposed bill remains pending in committee. Understanding the formula helps veterans evaluate their potential eligibility for the existing tax-free benefit. The calculations demonstrate how creditable years and the retired-pay base interact under current federal rules. These limits apply specifically to the existing benefit pathways rather than the proposed legislative changes.
The pending status of the Major Richard Star Act means veterans should focus heavily on established benefit pathways. The Military Toolkit article strongly advises readers not to plan their personal finances around proposed legislation. The explainer instead recommends that eligible Chapter 61 retirees review their existing options for Combat-Related Special Compensation. CRSC exists today as an active tax-free benefit designed specifically for qualifying combat-related disabilities.
Applying for this existing benefit is a completely separate process from the ongoing legislative efforts. CRSC payments are not automatically granted to any medically retired veteran regardless of their VA disability rating. The explainer states that claimants must complete and manually submit DD Form 2860 to begin the formal process. The form must be submitted directly to the specific service branch from which the service member originally retired.
The service branch then evaluates the medical evidence and determines which specific disabilities officially qualify as combat-related. This protocol means the military branch conducts the review rather than the Department of Veterans Affairs. Medically retired service members should check official branch instructions regarding the DD Form 2860 submission process. Individual eligibility and final payment amounts depend entirely on the specific case details and the subsequent service review.
Veterans can find further guidance on navigating complex administrative and health decisions in our ongoing veteran life coverage. Focusing on current CRSC eligibility allows veterans to act on existing laws rather than waiting indefinitely on uncertain legislation. The September discharge petition was a notable procedural step, but it did not inherently enact the bill into law. Submitting a well-documented CRSC claim remains the most concrete step available today for covered individuals.
The DD Form 2860 requires accurate information regarding the initial injury and the surrounding operational circumstances. Claimants must provide sufficient documentation for the service branch to make an informed combat-related determination. Reviewing your existing medical records and previous branch determinations can help streamline this complex application process. Taking the time to properly prepare the application is far more effective than waiting on congressional action.
Veterans should consistently consult official legislative records or dedicated veteran health resources before making financial decisions based on proposed changes. Legislative proposals can stall or change significantly before they ever reach a final floor vote. The existing DD Form 2860 pathway provides a regulated system for veterans to seek compensation for combat-related conditions right now. Navigating the current system requires attention to detail and patience with the service branch review process.
As procedural maneuvers like discharge petitions introduce new movement in the House, the ultimate fate of concurrent receipt legislation remains unresolved. Will future legislative sessions eventually bridge the gap between strong cosponsorship and actual passage for medically retired service members?
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