The House passed the Major Richard Star Act, H.R. 2102, by a 392–18 vote on Thursday, advancing a standalone measure to let eligible combat-injured military retirees collect both their full military retirement pay and VA disability compensation. The bill now moves to the Senate; it is not law yet.

What the House vote changes

The Star Act addresses a pay offset affecting some veterans who were medically retired because of combat-related disabilities before completing 20 years of service. Under current rules, eligible retirees can have military retired pay reduced when they receive VA disability compensation. H.R. 2102 would allow qualifying veterans to receive both payments in full, according to the bill text and the Congressional Budget Office.

The Associated Press reported that roughly 58,000 retired, combat-injured veterans could be affected and cited a CBO estimate that the change would increase total compensation by an average of about $1,450 a month. The CBO’s separate estimate for the modified bill projects about $12.75 billion in added direct spending over 2027–2036. These are estimates, not guaranteed individual payment amounts.

Why lawmakers faced two different bills

The vote followed a separate, broader House veterans package passed on Veterans Day. That measure also sought to increase compensation for medically retired veterans, but included changes to how the VA would rate tinnitus and sleep apnea for some future claims. The standalone Star Act focuses on concurrent retirement and disability payments instead. The separate measures leave the Senate with a choice about which approach, if either, to advance.

The House Clerk’s floor record lists H.R. 2102 as passed by the yeas and nays, 392 to 18. The CBO estimate describes the bill as applying to certain military retirees with combat-related disabilities. Neither House action nor the budget estimate by itself makes the benefit effective: the measure still must clear the Senate and complete the remaining steps to become law.

What veterans should watch next

The Senate’s decision will determine whether the proposal advances this Congress. Until legislation is enacted and implementation details are issued, veterans should treat the current payment rules as unchanged. The Globuzz’s Politics coverage follows the next steps on major congressional legislation.

Sources

Associated Press: The Latest, including the House’s second veterans bill in two days; Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives: Nov. 12 floor activity and vote on H.R. 2102; Congressional Budget Office: H.R. 2102 cost estimate; Associated Press: House approves broader veterans package on Veterans Day.