Newsbytes March 6, 2026

In this issue:
FRA National President Testifies 
Major Richard Star Act Blocked
VA Digital "Claim Assist Portal" 
Navy QoL and Readiness
Written Informed Consent Survey

FRA National President Testifies 
On Tuesday, March 3, 2026, FRA National President Richard J. Fetro testified before a joint session of the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees in the Dirksen Senate Office Building. This high-profile testimony serves as the FRA’s formal platform to present its 2026 Legislative Goals to Congressional leadership during the second session of the 119th Congress. Drawing on over a century of service to the sea service community, NP Fetro focused his remarks on three critical pillars: the Major Richard Star Act, the modernization of VA health records, and the protection of disability compensation. Click here to read National President Fetro’s full written testimony.

A primary focus of the testimony was the urgent need for Congress to pass the Major Richard Star Act. NP Fetro detailed the legacy of Major Star to illustrate the ongoing injustice faced by tens of thousands of combat-wounded retirees who are currently forced to offset their earned retired pay to receive VA disability compensation. The FRA’s position remains firm: these retirees earned their pay through service and their compensation through sacrifice, and it is time for Congress to end this "unjust offset" once and for all. Fetro challenged lawmakers to view this not as a new expense, but as a pre-paid debt of war.

NP Fetro also addressed the critical necessity for VA Electronic Health Record (EHR) Modernization. The FRA is advocating for the full implementation of H.R. 3455 to ensure that the VA’s digital infrastructure is capable of delivering timely and accurate care. Modernization is not merely a technical upgrade; it is a foundational requirement for automating presumptive claims. The FRA believes that when a veteran is diagnosed with a condition linked to their service, eligibility should be identified automatically, granting benefits without the current bureaucratic delays that often force veterans to wait years for recognition.

Finally, the testimony tackled the ongoing need for disability compensation reform that prioritizes transparency over complex math. President Fetro emphasized that any reform must ensure the timely delivery of benefits without reducing earned compensation levels. The recent defeat of the "Medication Penalty" rule is a clear example of why the veteran community must remain vigilant against medical management being used as a fiscal tool. These legislative actions are framed not just as policy shifts, but as essential steps toward maintaining national readiness and keeping faith with those who serve.

Watch The Full Hearing Here.

Photos From The Hearing. 

Major Richard Star Act Blocked
Immediately following the VSO hearings on March 3, 2026, the progress of the Major Richard Star Act hit a significant procedural roadblock on the Senate floor. Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) blocked two attempts by Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) to advance the legislation via unanimous consent. Senator Johnson cited concerns over the estimated $9.75 billion 10-year budgetary impact, stating that the nation "simply cannot afford" the cost at this time. This objection comes despite the bill having 77 bipartisan cosponsors in the Senate and 316 in the House.

The FRA identifies this procedural hold as a direct threat to our primary 2026 Legislative Pillar. By blocking the bill on fiscal grounds, opponents are essentially asking combat-wounded veterans to continue funding the federal budget through their own forfeited retirement pay. This "wounded veteran tax" affects over 50,000 retirees. National President Fetro’s testimony earlier that day anticipated these arguments, reminding the committee that the cost of caring for the wounded is a mandatory obligation of the state.

The strategy now pivots to the FY2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) as the primary legislative vehicle. While a standalone vote is preferred, the NDAA offers a "must-pass" environment where we can bypass individual committee-level holds and force a recorded floor vote. FRA is currently coordinating with a massive coalition to ensure the Star Act remains a top priority during the upcoming NDAA markups. We will not allow fiscal convenience to outweigh the earned rights of our combat-injured Shipmates.

FRA urges all members to take immediate action through the FRA Action Center. It is vital that Senators hear from their constituents that "budgetary impact" is not an acceptable excuse for maintaining an unjust offset. We need a groundswell of support to overcome the current gridlock and ensure that the 119th Congress does not end without correcting this inequity. Your voice is the most effective tool we have to break this procedural deadlock.

VA Digital "Claim Assist Portal" 
The Department of Veterans Affairs officially introduced the Claim Assist Portal, a new digital interface designed to streamline the evidence-gathering process for disability claims. This portal represents a significant step forward in the VA’s modernization efforts, allowing veterans to track the specific status of medical evidence requests in real-time. By utilizing SMS and email notifications, the portal aims to shave weeks off the "Development" phase of a claim, which has traditionally been the longest part of the process. Access the Claim Assist Portal here.

The portal allows veterans to check boxes to confirm information, answer short questions, and digitally sign forms, all without the need for traditional mail. This functionality is a direct response to the advocacy for transparency that FRA has championed. For sea service veterans, especially those in remote areas or serving overseas, this digital bridge ensures that missing evidence can be identified and provided almost instantaneously. This aligns perfectly with FRA’s goal of making the claims process as automated and intuitive as possible.

However, FRA remains focused on the "Quality of Adjudication" alongside this new efficiency. While the portal speeds up the collection of evidence, it does not replace the need for accurate medical reviews. FRA will be monitoring the rollout to ensure that the push for digital speed does not lead to "speculative denials" or the glossing over of complex maritime service records. We believe that technology should serve the veteran, not provide an excuse for the VA to prioritize metrics over the individual needs of the claimant.

As we move toward the FY2027 budget cycle, the FRA will advocate for continued funding of the VA’s IT infrastructure to support tools like the Claim Assist Portal. We encourage all Shipmates currently in the claims process to log in and familiarize themselves with the tool. While traditional mail and VSO assistance remain available, this portal provides a new level of "line of sight" into the VA’s internal clock. FRA will continue to work with the VBA to ensure this system remains accessible to all generations of veterans.

Navy QoL and Readiness
As the Navy continues to operate at a high tempo in contested environments, senior leadership is emphasizing that warfighting readiness is inseparable from the "Quality of Life" provided to Sailors. In a recent strategy update, officials noted that while the Navy remains ready to fight tonight, long-term sustainability depends on improving the daily experience of the deckplate. This includes addressing the cumulative stress of back-to-back deployments and ensuring that maintenance availability does not come at the expense of a Sailor's time with family.

FRA "Strongly Supports" this focus on the human element of readiness. For too long, "Quality of Life" has been viewed as a luxury, but the Navy is now recognizing it as a strategic imperative. This includes efforts to modernize shore-side infrastructure and provide more predictable schedules. Our Association believes that a ready fleet is a resilient fleet, and resilience is built when Sailors know their personal well-being and career progression are valued. We will continue to advocate for the funding necessary to move these initiatives from pilot programs to fleet-wide standards.

The Navy’s plan also includes a transition to "smarter" manning strategies designed to reduce the workload on individual Sailors during sea tours. By leveraging new technologies and adjusting personnel flow, leadership hopes to create a more sustainable pace that protects the health of the force. FRA is cautiously optimistic about these developments but will remain vigilant to ensure that "efficiency" does not become a code word for doing more with less. Our goal is a Navy that is both the world's most lethal fighting force and the world's best employer.

Retention remains the ultimate metric for these reforms. If the Navy successfully balances the demands of the mission with the needs of the Sailor, we will see our most experienced leaders choosing to stay in the service. During the upcoming FY2027 budget deliberations, FRA will work with the House and Senate Armed Services Committees to ensure that "Quality of Service" remains a top-tier priority. We are committed to ensuring that our Shipmates at the tip of the spear have the support system they need to succeed both in combat and at home.

Written Informed Consent Survey
Veterans deserve clear, complete information before starting any medication, especially those that carry serious risks. Written informed consent is a formal process that ensures patients fully understand a treatment before agreeing to it. Under this approach, a healthcare provider explains what the medication is intended to do, outlines all known risks and potential side effects, discusses alternative treatment options, and answers any questions the patient may have. The patient then signs a document confirming they received and understood this information, creating a permanent record in their medical file that the conversation took place.

This process goes beyond the brief verbal explanations that often occur during routine medical visits. Instead of relying on a quick conversation that may be forgotten, written informed consent provides veterans with clear information they can review later and share with family members or caregivers. This is especially important for medications that can affect mood, behavior, or thinking. By documenting the risks, encouraging questions, and creating accountability, written informed consent helps veterans make informed decisions about their care while strengthening communication between patients and their healthcare providers.

CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE SURVEY.