Nov 12, 2026 | Media, Press Releases, Veterans

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) released the following statement after this week's House passage of H.R. 9237, the Take Care of America's Veterans Act. The bill includes the Major Richard Star Act, which Congressman Higgins originally cosponsored.

Yesterday, Congressman Higgins voted against H.Res 1247, a Democrat-led discharge effort on the Major Richard Star Act, to keep Democrats from taking control of the House Floor through procedural maneuvering. House Republicans then passed H.R. 9237, the Take Care of America's Veterans Act, which delivers the Major Richard Star Act as part of a larger package of Veterans' reforms.

See the text of the Take Care of America's Veterans Act below showing the inclusion of the Major Richard Star Act in the package:

The Major Richard Star Act will allow combat-injured Veterans to receive their full military retirement pay in addition to their VA disability compensation, instead of having one offset the other.

Beyond the Major Richard Star Act, the Take Care of America's Veterans Act delivers more than 60 Veterans priorities, including improvements to VA health care and benefits, and expanded support for survivors and caregivers.

This morning, Congressman Higgins voted against H.R. 2102, a standalone version of the Major Richard Star Act, which only received floor consideration due to Democrat manipulation of procedure, since the legislation was already passed as part of the Take Care of America's Veterans Act.

Congressman Higgins said: "Our combat-wounded Veterans have bled for this country, but Washington has made them choose between the retirement pay they earned and the disability compensation they deserve. That ends now. As an original cosponsor, I have stood behind the Major Richard Star Act from the beginning, and this week, House Republicans delivered it. I will not hand the House Floor over to Democrat trickery, and I will not play games with our Veterans. The Senate must act quickly to send the Take Care of America's Veterans Act to President Trump's desk."