Veterans Legislative Action Center: from Papillion to Capitol Hill
Veterans' benefits are shaped at every level of government, from city hall to the U.S. Senate. This page shows who represents you, which bills matter right now, and the fastest way to make your voice count.
The House passed the Major Richard Star Act. Now it's up to the Senate.
On November 12, 2026, the House passed H.R. 2102, 392–18. The bill lets combat-injured, medically retired veterans receive both their full military retirement pay and their VA disability compensation. The Senate has to pass it before this Congress ends on January 3, 2027, or the bill dies and the process starts over next year.
Both of Nebraska's U.S. senators, Deb Fischer and Pete Ricketts, are cosponsors of the Senate version, S. 1032. Thank them, and ask them to push for a Senate floor vote before January 3.
"Hi, my name is ______ and I live in ______, Nebraska. I'm a member of American Legion Post 32. Thank you for cosponsoring the Major Richard Star Act, S. 1032. The House passed it 392 to 18. Please press leadership for a Senate vote before January 3 so combat-injured veterans receive the pay they earned. Thank you."
Tips: Call any office listed on the senator's website. Staff tally every call by topic. Be brief and polite, and mention you're a constituent.
Afterward, log your call in the Legion's Congressional Contact Report so National Headquarters can count it.
Key dates ahead
The next 60 days are unusually busy. A federal deadline, a new Congress and a new state legislative session all arrive within one week of each other.
- November 12, 2026House passes the Star Act, 392–18The bill moves to the Senate.
- Mid-December 2026Senate's target date to leave for the holidaysThis is the realistic window for a Senate vote.
- January 3, 2027119th Congress ends; the 120th is sworn inAny bill that hasn't passed has to be reintroduced.
- January 6, 2027Nebraska's 110th Legislature convenesBill introduction opens, and veterans bills from 2026 can come back.
- Early 2027The Legion releases its 2027 legislative agendaThe Washington Conference follows.
- February 1 – June 30Homestead exemption filing windowFile Form 458 with your county assessor.
Choose your city
Post 32 meets in Papillion and serves all three cities. Each city page lists your mayor and council, when they meet, your county board and Veterans Service Office, your state senator, and the local memorials and ceremonies Post 32 supports. Ralston is in Douglas County, so its county and state officials differ from Papillion's and La Vista's.
Open Papillion page → Sarpy CountyLa VistaFour wards · Sarpy County Board · Legislative Districts 14 & 49
Open La Vista page → Douglas CountyRalstonWard council · Douglas County Board · Legislative District 12
Open Ralston page →
Not sure of your district? Enter your home address in the Legion's Action Center and it will list all of your state and federal officials.
What we're fighting for, in plain English
Tap any issue to see what it is, why it matters here, and what you can do about it.
Full pay for combat-injured retirees (the Star Act)Federal · H.R. 2102 / S. 1032 · in the Senate now
The problem: When a service member is medically retired because of a combat injury before reaching 20 years of service, federal law reduces their military retirement pay dollar for dollar by the VA disability compensation they receive. In effect, they lose part of one benefit to collect the other.
The fix: The Major Richard Star Act lets these veterans receive both benefits in full. The Legion lists it among its 2026 priorities.
Where it stands: It passed the House 392–18 on November 12, 2026, after a discharge petition forced a vote. Both of Nebraska's U.S. senators cosponsor the Senate version.
Take action on the Star Act →Stopping "claim sharks"Federal and Nebraska · protecting veterans from paid claim consultants
The problem: Filing a VA disability claim is free. Unaccredited for-profit "claim sharks" still charge veterans thousands of dollars to file, often more than $5,000. Federal law bars them from charging, but it currently sets no criminal penalty.
The Legion's position: The American Legion supports the GUARD VA Benefits Act, which would restore penalties, and opposes the PLUS Act, which would legalize paid claim consulting. In Nebraska, LB693 (deceptive practices in veterans benefits assistance) stalled in 2026 and may return in 2027.
What you can do today: Never pay anyone to file a VA claim. Post 32's Veteran Service Officers and your county Veterans Service Office help for free.
Property-tax relief for disabled veteransNebraska · homestead exemption · LB882 to watch in 2027
What exists now: Veterans rated 100% service-connected permanently disabled can get a full homestead exemption with no income test (Category 4V). Other categories cover surviving spouses and veterans who are temporarily 100% disabled.
How to claim it: File Form 458 with your county assessor between February 1 and June 30. Sarpy County residents file in Papillion, and Ralston residents file with Douglas County.
What's next: LB882, which would expand homestead exemptions for certain veterans and surviving spouses, didn't pass in 2026. Watch for it to be reintroduced when the Legislature convenes January 6.
Nebraska homestead exemption forms →Ending veteran homelessnessFederal · Legion 2026 priority
The Legion is pressing Congress to expand project-based HUD-VASH housing vouchers, permanently authorize the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program, and fully fund the Grant Per Diem program. The two main bills are the End Veteran Homelessness Act (H.R. 1957) and the Every Veteran Housed Act (H.R. 3869).
What you can do: Ask your U.S. representative to cosponsor both bills. If you know a veteran who needs housing, call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-424-3838.
GI Bill parity for the Guard and ReserveFederal · H.R. 1423
Many Guard and Reserve members serve for months on orders that don't count toward their GI Bill. The Guard & Reserve GI Bill Parity Act would count that service the same way active-duty time is counted. This matters to Nebraska Guard families and the Offutt community. Nebraska took a related step at the state level in 2026: LB998 created a state income tax deduction for National Guard members.
Suicide prevention: "Winning the War Within"Federal · the Legion's top priority
The Legion calls veteran suicide its top legislative priority. It is pushing Congress to expand community-based prevention, fund evidence-based mental health treatment, and permanently authorize the SSG Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program. Post 32 members can also take the Legion's free Be the One training.
If you or a veteran you know is in crisis: dial 988, then press 1. It's free, confidential and available 24/7.
State and federal
Nebraska Legislature
Nebraska is the only state with a one-house, officially nonpartisan legislature of 49 senators. It sets veteran homestead exemptions, state veterans homes, tuition waivers, and tax treatment of military retirement and Guard pay. Veterans bills go to the Government, Military & Veterans Affairs Committee.
The 110th Legislature convenes January 6, 2027. Anyone can testify at a committee hearing in Lincoln or submit written comments online.
Find your senator at NebraskaLegislature.govU.S. Congress
Sarpy County is split between NE-1 and NE-2. Confirm your district by ZIP code. The new Congress is sworn in on January 3, 2027.
How a Post 32 idea becomes a request to Congress
The American Legion is nonpartisan. It never endorses candidates, but it advocates hard for specific bills. Its positions start as resolutions that members adopt, which become a legislative agenda for each session of Congress. The National Commander presents that agenda to the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees each year.
- 1PostMembers raise an issue and draft a resolution at a Post 32 meeting.
- 2Department of NebraskaThe state convention adopts it and sends it to the national convention.
- 3National resolutionOnce adopted nationally, it becomes official Legion policy.
- 4Legislative agendaThe Legion's staff in Washington turns its policies into the year's priorities.
- 5Washington ConferenceThe National Commander testifies before Congress, and members visit their lawmakers.
- 6YouAction alerts reach members, who contact lawmakers directly.
American Legion Legislative Division · 1608 K St. NW, Washington, DC 20006 · 202-861-2700 · legislativedivision@legion.org
Bill tracker
Status as of November 12, 2026.
Federal · 119th Congress (ends January 3, 2027)
| Bill | What it does | Status | Your move |
|---|---|---|---|
| Major Richard Star Act H.R. 2102 / S. 1032 | Ends the offset that keeps combat-injured, medically retired veterans from receiving both full retirement pay and VA disability compensation. | Passed House 392–18 November 12, 2026. Now in the Senate. | Call Sens. Fischer and Ricketts. |
| Take Care of America's Veterans Act H.R. 9237 | A House package that includes the Star Act along with other stalled veterans bills. | Passed House by voice vote November 11, 2026 | Watch for Legion alerts on which bill the Senate takes up. |
| GUARD VA Benefits Act H.R. 1732 | Restores criminal penalties for unaccredited "claim sharks" who charge veterans to file VA claims. | Legion supports | Ask your U.S. representative to cosponsor. |
| End Veteran Homelessness Act · Every Veteran Housed Act H.R. 1957 · H.R. 3869 | Expand HUD-VASH housing vouchers and permanently authorize the Supportive Services for Veteran Families program. | Legion 2026 priority | Ask your U.S. representative to cosponsor. |
| Veterans ACCESS Act S. 275 / H.R. 740 | Protects veterans' access to community care and improves coordination between the VA and outside providers. | Legion 2026 priority | Share your community-care experience with your lawmakers. |
| Guard & Reserve GI Bill Parity Act H.R. 1423 | Counts Guard and Reserve service toward the GI Bill the same way active-duty service is counted. | Legion 2026 priority | Especially relevant to Guard members and Offutt-area families. |
| Medical Disability Examination Improvement Act S. 2493 | Raises examiner qualifications and quality control for VA compensation and pension (C&P) exams. | Legion 2026 priority | Tell our Service Officers about any bad exam experience you've had. |
Bills that haven't passed by January 3, 2027 expire with the 119th Congress and must be reintroduced.
Nebraska · 2026 results and what to watch in 2027
- LB998 (Andersen): state income tax deduction for National Guard members
- LB753 (Rountree, J. Cavanaugh): recognizes and enforces military protective orders
- LB787 (Sanders): updates the Commission on Military and Veterans Affairs
- LB826 (DeKay, Conrad and others): accepts late homestead exemption applications
- LR357: the Legislature congratulated the American Legion on 107 years of service
- LB882 (Andersen, Conrad and others): homestead exemptions for certain veterans and surviving spouses
- LB693 (McKeon, Lonowski and others): deceptive practices in veterans benefits assistance
- LB694 (Guereca, DeKay and others): discrimination based on military or veteran status
- LB786 (Sanders, Conrad): Military Honor Plates and grants for service members in need
- LB1226 (Andersen, Conrad): combination hunting and fishing permit for certain veterans
Source: the Nebraska Department of Veterans' Affairs 2026 Legislative Tracker, which is for information only and doesn't endorse any bill. See the full tracker.
Three ways to be heard
Call
A call is the fastest way to be counted. Say your name and city, that you're a Post 32 member, the bill number, and what you're asking for. Staff tally every call.
Best for votes coming up within days.
Write
The Legion's Grassroots Action Center finds your lawmakers from your address and pre-fills a message. Add one sentence about your own service, because personal stories get read.
Open the Action CenterShow up
Testify at a Unicameral hearing or submit comments online. Speak during public comment at your city council or county board. A Legion cap in the room carries weight.
Our Legislative Officer can help you prepare.
Michael Nelson
2nd Vice Commander & Legislative Officer
Do you have an issue you want Post 32 to take up, or need help preparing testimony or a resolution? Start here.
Email the Legislative OfficerWill Post 32 tell me who to vote for?
No. The American Legion is nonpartisan and never endorses or opposes candidates. We take positions on bills and policies, not on people or parties.
Do I have to be a Legion member to use this page?
No. Anyone who cares about veterans can use these tools. If you're eligible, we'd love to have you. See why to join.
Does one call really matter?
Yes. Offices count calls by issue, and members of Congress see the totals. In 2025, Legion members sent 102,873 messages to Congress through the Grassroots Action Center, and the Star Act's House vote showed that steady pressure works.
How do I testify in Lincoln?
Each bill's page on NebraskaLegislature.gov lists its hearing date. You can testify in person at the committee hearing or submit written comments online before the deadline. Email our Legislative Officer and we'll help you prepare.
Get Post 32 legislative alerts
We send one short email when there's a vote you can affect, plus a monthly roundup covering every level from city hall to Congress. Sign up with the form just below this section.
American Legion Post 32 is a nonpartisan veterans service organization. We advocate for legislation and never endorse or oppose candidates for public office. Officeholder information is current as of November 12, 2026. Corrections: info@americanlegionpost32.com