As we wrap up this Memorial Day weekend, many of us have spent the last few days reflecting on the incredible sacrifices made by our service members. We say "Thank you for your service" often, and while those words are important, here at Operation T.A.G. (Tangible Act of Gratitude), we believe gratitude should be something you can actually feel. It should be tangible.
Unfortunately, for thousands of our combat-injured veterans, the government’s way of saying "thanks" includes a hidden penalty that most Americans find hard to believe exists. It’s called the "Wounded Warrior Tax," and right now, there is a massive fight happening in Washington D.C. to finally end it.
If you believe that a veteran who was forced into retirement due to combat injuries deserves everything they were promised, then this is a story you need to hear. Even better, there is something you can do about it today.
What Exactly is the "Wounded Warrior Tax"?
To understand the problem, you have to understand how military retirement and disability pay usually work. For most veterans who serve 20 years or more, they receive their retirement pay from the Department of Defense (DoD) and, if they have a service-connected disability rating of 50% or higher, they also receive disability compensation from the VA. This is called "concurrent receipt."
However, there is a massive loophole: a glitch in the system that feels more like a slap in the face.
Veterans who were medically retired with fewer than 20 years of service due to combat-related injuries are currently subjected to a dollar-for-dollar "offset." This means that for every dollar they receive in VA disability compensation, a dollar is snatched away from their earned DoD retirement pay.
Imagine working a job where your pension is cut because you got hurt on the clock. It sounds like a bad joke, but for over 50,000 combat-injured veterans, it is a daily financial reality. They are essentially paying for their own disability benefits out of their own retirement pockets. This is the Wounded Warrior Tax.
The Solution: The Major Richard Star Act
The fix for this injustice is a piece of legislation called the Major Richard Star Act (H.R. 2102 / S. 1032).
The bill is named after Major Richard Star, a dedicated soldier who was medically retired after being diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer linked to burn pit exposure during his deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Major Star spent the final years of his life fighting for this change, not just for himself, but for the thousands of other "Chapter 61" retirees (those medically retired before 20 years) who are being penalized for their injuries.
The Major Richard Star Act would simply allow these veterans to receive both their earned retirement pay and their disability compensation concurrently. It’s the biggest no-brainer in veteran benefits. If you earned the retirement through your service and you earned the disability through your sacrifice, you should get both. Period.
The News: Why Is It Stuck?
You might be wondering, "If this is such a no-brainer, why hasn't it passed yet?"
That’s a great question. The bill actually has incredible support. As of late May 2026, it has over 330 bipartisan co-sponsors in the House. In a town where people can’t agree on the weather, having that many members from both sides of the aisle on board is almost unheard of.
The problem? House leadership has been blocking the bill from coming to a vote, primarily citing the "cost." It is estimated that ending this offset would cost about $10 billion to $13 billion over the next decade. While that sounds like a lot of money, many advocates point out that we manage to find budget for plenty of other things that don't involve supporting combat-injured heroes.
Because the bill was stuck in committee, Representative Mark Takano and Representative Raul Ruiz decided to take a more direct approach. On April 30, 2026, they filed what is known as a discharge petition.
A discharge petition is a move used to bypass House leadership and force a bill directly to the floor for a vote. To make it work, you need a majority of the House to sign it: exactly 218 signatures.
The Current Status: We Need 61 More Names
As of the latest update on May 21, 2026, the discharge petition for the Major Richard Star Act has 157 signatures.
We are close, but we aren't there yet. We need 61 more members of Congress to step up, put their names on that paper, and demand that our wounded warriors get what they are owed.
This is where you come in.
Your Mission: Help Force the Vote
If you want to turn your gratitude into action this week, here is the most effective thing you can do:
- Find your U.S. Representative. You can easily do this by visiting www.house.gov and entering your zip code.
- Call their office. Don’t just send an email (those get buried). A phone call takes two minutes and carries much more weight.
- The Ask: "I am a constituent, and I’m calling to ask Representative [Name] to sign the Discharge Petition for H.R. 2102, the Major Richard Star Act. It is time to end the Wounded Warrior Tax and support our combat-injured veterans."
It’s simple, it’s direct, and it works. When offices start getting flooded with calls about a specific petition number, the Representative notices.
Beyond Saying "Thank You"
At Operation T.A.G., our mission is built on the idea that "thank you" isn't enough. Whether it's fighting for legislative changes like the Richard Star Act or helping a military family get into a home, we believe in tangible results.
Our flagship program is the Hometown Hero Credit. We are a non-profit organization, partnering with the nation's 10th largest residential mortgage lender, PRMG. Together, we've designed this program to be the biggest no-brainer in real estate for our military community.
When an active duty member, reservist, veteran, or Gold Star spouse buys or refinances a home, we provide a 2% credit up to $21,000.
Here is how it works (and how it's different from the "games" you might see elsewhere):
- The 2% credit is calculated on your loan amount, not the sales price.
- It is 100% a gift. There is no repayment required, no gimmicks, and it isn't limited to first-time buyers.
- It’s versatile. You can use that 2% credit to pay your closing fees, buy down your interest rate to get a lower monthly payment, or even pay real estate agent fees. In some cases, it can even be used to pay down debt to help you qualify for your VA loan. (Just keep in mind, it cannot be used for the down payment itself or for non-loan purposes).
Because VA loans generally don’t require a down payment, having a 2% credit (up to $21,000) to cover all your other costs can mean moving into a home with zero: or very little: out-of-pocket expense.
Join the Movement
Whether you are a veteran looking for your next home or a patriotic citizen who wants to help end the Wounded Warrior Tax, your voice and your actions matter.
We can change the world, one military family at a time. It starts with making that phone call to your Representative and it continues by spreading the word about programs that actually put money back into the pockets of those who served.
Let's get those 218 signatures and let's keep building a legacy of gratitude that is truly tangible.
Stay focused, stay patriotic, and let's get to work.
Brett Stacy
National Director & Founder of the Hometown Hero Credit
A program of Operation T.A.G. (Tangible Act of Gratitude)
A 501(c)(3) non-profit project of HDCF
Websites: www.OperationTAG.org | www.HometownHeroCredit.com
Phone: 760-456-8748 (24-hour Information Line)
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