WASHINGTON, DC — The United States House of Representatives has passed the Major Richard Star Act (H.R. 2102) and the Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act (H.R.8552), bipartisan legislation cosponsored by Representative Josh Riley (NY-19) to improve veterans’ benefits.

The Major Richard Star Act will end the “wounded warrior tax”—an offset that keeps medically-retired veterans from receiving both their full retirement pay and disability benefits. The Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act will increase certain VA benefits to make sure they keep up with the rising cost of living.

“Upstate veterans deserve every penny of the benefits they’ve earned. But for too long, they’ve been shortchanged by an outdated system and inaction in Washington. As costs rise across the board, these bills will make a real difference for our veterans and their families,” said Riley. “We’re breaking through the gridlock and finally delivering for America’s heroes.”

The passage of the Major Richard Star Act and the Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act builds on Rep. Riley’s work to support our nation’s veterans:

In May 2025, Riley introduced the VET PFAS Act to guarantee access to VA healthcare for veterans exposed to PFAS as military installations.

In April 2025, the House passed H.R. 586, the Vietnam Veterans Liver Fluke Cancer Study Act, a bipartisan bill co-sponsored by Riley to investigate links between cholangiocarcinoma and service in the Vietnam theater.

Riley is an original cosponsor of the Feed Hungry Veterans Act (H.R. 2195) to expand SNAP eligibility for disabled veterans.

Riley is also an original cosponsor of the Protect Veterans Jobs Act (H.R. 1637), which would reinstate laid-off veteran federal employees and require agencies to report data on veteran dismissals.

You can read bill text of the Major Richard Star Act here and bill text of the Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act here.