Newsbytes July 25, 2025 
 

In this issue: 
Bipartisan Push for Major Richard Star Act in NDAA 
ACES Act Heads to President’s Desk 
VA Improves Community Care
Coast Guard’s 235th Birthday on Capitol Hill 

Bipartisan Push for Major Richard Star Act in NDAA 
Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mike Crapo (R-ID), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) have introduced the Major Richard Star Act as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The bipartisan measure aims to ensure combat-injured veterans receive their full Department of Defense (DOD) retirement pay and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability compensation without offset. 

Currently, over 50,000 combat-injured military retirees with less than 50 percent disability ratings or fewer than 20 years of service face a dollar-for-dollar reduction in their benefits. The Major Richard Star Act seeks to eliminate this unfair policy, delivering full earned benefits to these veterans. Named after Major Richard A. Star, a decorated veteran who medically retired due to combat injuries and passed away from cancer in 2021, the amendment has garnered support from over 31 cosponsors. 

“The Major Richard Star Act would correct one of the deepest injustices in our present veterans’ disability system." said Senator Blumenthal, Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. 

"The support for this correction is clear. Though the namesake of our legislation is no longer with us, we must pass this fix on behalf of the more than 50,000 veterans, including hundreds in Idaho, who stand to benefit.” Senator Crapo emphasized the broad support, noting its impact on veterans nationwide, including hundreds in Idaho. Senator Warren added, “Including this bill in the NDAA will ensure the federal government keeps its promise to our veterans.” 

If passed, the amendment would provide critical financial relief to combat-injured retirees, honoring their service and sacrifice. 

Click the link below to urge your legislators to include the Major Richard Star Act in the FY26 NDAA: 
https://www.votervoice.net/FRA/campaigns/100773/respond 

ACES Act  Heads to President’s Desk to Honor Aviators 
The House of Representatives passed the bipartisan Aviator Cancer Examination Study (ACES) Act, following its unanimous approval in the Senate last month. This critical legislation, championed by the Fleet Reserve Association (FRA), now awaits President Donald Trump’s signature, marking a significant step toward addressing the elevated cancer risks faced by military aviators and aircrew members. 

The ACES Act, introduced in the House by Representative August Pfluger, a U.S. Air Force Reserve Colonel, and Representative Jimmy Panetta, a U.S. Navy veteran, directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to study cancer incidence and mortality among Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps aviators. In the Senate, the bill was led by Senators Mark Kelly and Tom Cotton, both veterans serving on the Senate Armed Services Committee. The legislation addresses alarming findings that pilots and aircrews face higher risks of prostate cancer, melanoma, and potentially non-Hodgkin lymphoma and testicular cancer, linked to their service. 

Representative Pfluger, who made the ACES Act his top congressional priority, dedicated the bill to his friend and fellow fighter pilot, Colonel Andy “Pablo” Shurtleff, who lost his life to an aggressive cancer tied to his service. Speaking on the House floor, Pfluger called the bill “a lifeline and a message to every pilot who has ever put on the uniform to protect our skies that we will fight to protect them in return.” Panetta echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the bill ensures military and VA providers have the data needed to deliver better care to veterans. Senator Kelly, a former Navy pilot, emphasized the need for answers about health risks that emerge years after service, while Senator Cotton stressed the duty to support past, present, and future aviators. 

The ACES Act’s journey to passage was marked by overwhelming bipartisan support, with a 376-5 vote in the House in May and unanimous Senate approval. This success was fueled by the tireless advocacy of FRA members, who used the FRA Action Center to flood legislators with messages urging support for the bill. Their efforts ensured the voices of veterans were heard, pushing the legislation across the finish line. 

The FRA celebrates this milestone but remains steadfast in its mission. As the ACES Act heads to the President’s desk, the FRA continues to advocate for legislation that honors the sacrifices of service members, ensuring their health, benefits, and well-being are protected long after their service ends. 

VA Improves Community Care
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced a policy change effective immediately, removing the need for secondary VA doctor approval for Veterans to access non-VA health care at VA expense, streamlining the process under the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act which was strongly supported by FRA efforts through the action center. 

Key Changes and Details: 

Streamlined Access: The requirement for a second VA doctor’s review of community care referrals, previously mandated under the 2019 MISSION Act, has been eliminated, enabling faster access to non-VA providers. 

MISSION Act Eligibility: Veterans can access community care if: 

• Care is in their best medical interest, as determined with their referring clinician. 
• Required care is unavailable at VA facilities. 
• Veterans live in states or territories without full-service VA facilities. 
• VA cannot meet wait time standards (20 days for primary care, mental health, or non-institutional extended care; 28 days for specialty care). 
• Travel exceeds 30 minutes for primary/mental health care or 60 minutes for specialty care. 
• VA services do not meet quality standards. 
• Veterans qualify under grandfathered Veterans Choice Program distance/location provisions. 

Implementation Support: VA will provide training for Veterans Health Administration staff to ensure compliance with the Elizabeth Dole Act. 

Leadership Statement: VA Secretary Doug Collins emphasized, “Under President Trump, VA is providing Veterans with more health care choices than ever before, prioritizing customer service and convenience.” 

This change enhances Veterans’ ability to receive timely care from non-VA providers when needed, reinforcing the VA’s commitment to Veteran-centered care. 

Coast Guard’s 235th Birthday on Capitol Hill 
The Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) Legislative Team including NED Phillip Reid and ADLP Theo Lawson joined Coast Guard personnel, administration leaders, military leaders, members of congress and congressional staff on Capitol Hill to commemorate the United States Coast Guard’s 235th birthday, marking its establishment on August 4, 1790, as the Revenue Cutter Service. The event celebrated the Coast Guard’s storied legacy of maritime safety, security, and emergency response, while spotlighting a heroic aircrew from Air Station Corpus Christi who saved nearly 200 lives during the catastrophic Texas floods earlier this month. The celebration also highlighted historic funding for the Coast Guard, secured through recent bipartisan legislation. 

Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) delivered remarks, emphasizing the Coast Guard’s critical role and the significance of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025, which passed the Senate unanimously in March and authorizes a record $30.45 billion. The legislation bolsters missions like drug interdiction, icebreaker modernization, and protections against sexual assault and harassment, while improving housing, health care, and mental health services for Coast Guard families. 

A centerpiece of the event was the recognition of the Coast Guard Rescue 6553 crew from Air Station Corpus Christi, honored for their bravery during the Texas Hill Country floods on July 4, 2025. The crew—Lieutenant Ian Hopper (aircraft commander), Lieutenant Blair Ogujiofor (co-pilot), Petty Officer 3rd Class Scott Ruskan (rescue swimmer), and Aviation Maintenance Technician 3rd Class Seth Reeves (flight mechanic)—received the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on July 11. Navigating an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter through severe storms for nearly seven hours, they reached Camp Mystic, a girls’ summer camp devastated by the Guadalupe River’s surge from 3 to nearly 30 feet. Ruskan, on his first mission, triaged 165 campers and staff on the ground, while the crew directly evacuated 18 individuals, contributing to nearly 200 rescues. Noem praised their courage, and Ruskan credited the campers’ resilience, calling them the “real heroes.” 

Admiral Kevin Lunday, acting commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, spoke at the event, reflecting on the service’s “Semper Paratus” (Always Ready) ethos and the crew’s actions as a testament to its lifesaving mission during crises like the Texas floods. The FRA Legislative Team engaged with attendees, advocating for continued support for Coast Guard personnel and veterans. As the Coast Guard enters its 236th year, the FRA remains committed to championing legislative initiatives that ensure Coast Guard members, veterans, and their families receive the resources, recognition, and support they deserve.