Top 10 State Losses in 2026: Major Richard Star Act Fix For 54,000 Veterans Runs Through S.Amdt. 4056

Washington, D.C, District of Columbia Jan 8, 2026 (Issuewire.com) 54K Veterans, lead by a combat veteran, Senior Chief Shane Junkert, USN (ret.) issued an executive brief update focused on one measurable Senate metric as 2026 begins: whether offices that publicly backed the Major Richard Star Act are now cosponsoring the active legislative vehicle, S.Amdt. 4056.

The Major Richard Star Act would end a rule that forces many medically retired, combat injured Chapter 61 veterans with less than 20 years of service to waive earned DoD retired pay in order to receive VA disability compensation.

Executive Summary: January 3, 2026

S. 1032, the Major Richard Star Act, currently lists 77 cosponsors on Congress.gov, but the active vehicle, S.Amdt. 4056, lists 18 cosponsors.

54KVeterans.org is framing this as a trackable cosponsor gap heading into mid January 2026.

State by State Impact

54KVeterans.org has published annual state impact figures on its homepage in a state by state impact section near the bottom of the page.

These figures are presented as the annual retired pay impact continuing into 2026.

54KVeterans.org recognizes that not every senator serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee or the Appropriations Committee. However, the coalition is requesting that senators not only cosponsor S.Amdt. 4056, but also be vocal through national media outlets and their official social media platforms to explain what occurred on October 8, 2025 on the Senate floor and why S.Amdt. 4056 is the current legislative solution for 54,000 Chapter 61 medically retired, combat injured veterans who continue to waive earned retired pay under the existing offset.

Top 10 Most Impacted States by Annual Loss and Current S.Amdt. 4056 Cosponsor Status (As of January 3, 2026)

Texas $103,867,200 lost annually. Senator John Cornyn cosponsor no. Senator Ted Cruz cosponsor no.

Florida $58,723,200 lost annually. Senator Rick Scott cosponsor no. Senator Ashley Moody cosponsor no.

North Carolina $42,580,800 lost annually. Senator Thom Tillis cosponsor no. Senator Ted Budd cosponsor no.

California $37,310,400 lost annually. Senator Alex Padilla cosponsor no. Senator Adam Schiff cosponsor no.

Georgia $36,576,000 lost annually. Senator Jon Ossoff cosponsor no. Senator Raphael Warnock cosponsor no.

Tennessee $25,372,800 lost annually. Senator Marsha Blackburn cosponsor no. Senator Bill Hagerty cosponsor no.

Colorado $24,422,400 lost annually. Senator Michael Bennet cosponsor yes. Senator John Hickenlooper cosponsor no.

Virginia $24,235,200 lost annually. Senator Mark Warner cosponsor no. Senator Tim Kaine cosponsor no.

Washington $21,902,400 lost annually. Senator Maria Cantwell cosponsor yes. Senator Patty Murray cosponsor no.

Alabama $21,340,800 lost annually. Senator Katie Britt cosponsor no. Senator Tommy Tuberville cosponsor no.

October 8, 2025 Record Reference

The executive brief continues to point media and staff to the official Senate floor record for October 8, 2025, where a unanimous consent request related to the Major Richard Star Act did not proceed after an objection was entered

Statement From 54KVeterans.org Lead, Shane Junkert

It says a lot about where we are right now that ch 61 combat injured, medically retired veterans across the nation, have had to use their own money for billboards in Mississippi just to be heard. These families should not have to fund visibility to get attention on a federal issue. I am asking senators to use their national media contacts and their official social media platforms to explain what happened on October 8, 2025 and to elevate the Major Richard Star Act solution through S.Amdt. 4056. Senior Chief Shane Junkert, USN (Ret.)

Media Coverage of the Senate Objection

The stalled legislation has drawn significant media attention regarding the specific obstacle in the Senate. A recent report by WTVA9 News details the objection by Senator Roger Wicker that prevented the bills passage. The coverage also highlights the billboard campaign launched across the region by PassTheAct.org to raise awareness about the delay in allowing a vote.

https://youtu.be/zMYuPw4ELTA?si=TsYkczrLA_mgKl38

The Active Vehicle

S.Amdt. 4056 is the active vehicle because it is attached to H.R. 4016, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2026, with a live cosponsor list and a defined legislative pathway.

About 54KVeterans.org

54KVeterans.org is a grassroots coalition of combat injured veterans providing data and advocacy related to the Major Richard Star Act and the retirement pay offset affecting medically retired veterans.