Bill Analysis — HJM 4012, Supporting Combat-Injured Veterans (Office of Program Research, 2/3/26)

Summary

House of Representatives Office of Program Research bill analysis for HJM 4012, prepared for the Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans Committee, with a hearing date of 2/3/26. The brief summary says the memorial requests that Congress schedule a floor vote for the Major Richard Star Act, to provide combat-injured veterans with full compensation regardless of their years of service. The background says that in 2004 Congress passed legislation allowing concurrent retirement and disability pay, limited to members who served 20 or more years. It says the Major Richard Star Act, H.R. 2102, was introduced by Representative Bilirakis on March 14, 2025, and that the analysis lists the Washington members of Congress to whom the memorial would be transmitted.

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Washington State                    BILL
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research   ANALYSIS
Technology, Economic Development, &
Veterans Committee
                                      HJM 4012
Brief Description: Supporting combat-injured veterans.

Sponsors: Representatives Penner, Shavers, Couture, Keaton, Donaghy, McEntire, Bronoske,
    Volz, Burnett, Leavitt, Marshall, Abell, Dufault, Stuebe, Chase, Barnard, Nance and
    Timmons.


                                     Brief Summary of Bill
          • Requests that Congress schedule a floor vote for the Major Richard Star
            Act, to provide combat-injured veterans with full compensation
            regardless of their years of service.


Hearing Date: 2/3/26

Staff: Martha Wehling (786-7067).

Background:

Under federal law, service members are eligible for compensation depending on their type and
length of service and whether the member was injured. The amount of compensation a service
member receives varies depending on whether the member retires or separates, the length of
service, and the degree of disability resulting from an injury, if any. A service member with less
than 20 years of service receives fewer benefits than a service member with the same combat
injury but more than 20 years of service. In 2004 Congress passed legislation allowing
concurrent retirement and disability pay, but the legislation was limited in application to
members who served 20 or more years.

A service member includes members who served in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps,



     This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative
     members in their deliberations. This analysis is not part of the legislation nor does it
     constitute a statement of legislative intent.

House Bill Analysis                             -1-                                        HJM 4012
Space Force, Coast Guard, and the commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration and the Public Health Service. Reserve members are eligible for
some benefits depending on the length of active duty.

A federal bill, the Major Richard Star Act, H.R. 2102, proposes to amend federal law to address
compensation for combat injuries. The Major Richard Star Act was introduced by
Representative Bilirakis on March 14, 2025, and referred to the Subcommittee on Disability
Assistance and Memorial Affairs on April 4, 2025.

Summary of Bill:

The House Joint Memorial requests that the Major Richard Star Act be scheduled for a floor vote
in Congress. The House Joint Memorial will be transmitted to the President of the United States,
the Secretary of the United States Department of Defense, the Secretary of the Department of
Veterans Affairs, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, and the two Washington Senators and 10 Representatives: Maria Cantwell,
Patty Murray, Suzan DelBene, Rick Larsen, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Dan Newhouse, Michael
Baumgartner, Emily Randall, Pramila Jayapal, Kim Schrier, Adam Smith, and Marilyn
Strickland.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.




House Bill Analysis                           -2-                                      HJM 4012


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