What happened
• Senator Richard Blumenthal (D Connecticut) filed S.Amdt. 4056 to H.R. 4016 on Dec 16, 2025
• H.R. 4016 is the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2026
• Congress.gov shows the amendment is filed and Actions are still at 0
• January 1, 2026 marks the start of the midterm election year
Source: https://www.congress.gov/amendment/119th-congress/senate-amendment/4056
Cosponsors list: https://www.congress.gov/amendment/119th-congress/senate-amendment/4056/cosponsors
Confirmed cosponsors of S.Amdt. 4056
• Sen. Mike Crapo (R Idaho)
• Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D Massachusetts)
• Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D New Mexico)
• Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D Maryland)
• Sen. Angus King (I Maine)
• Sen. Martin Heinrich (D New Mexico)
• Sen. Ron Wyden (D Oregon)
• Sen. Jacky Rosen (D Nevada)
• Sen. Michael Bennet (D Colorado)
What advocates do next
• If your senator is a Major Richard Star Act cosponsor, call and ask them to also cosponsor and publicly support Senator Blumenthal amendment S.Amdt. 4056 to H.R. 4016
• If your senator is not a Major Richard Star Act cosponsor, call and demand two yes answers
• Yes, cosponsor the Major Richard Star Act
• Yes, cosponsor and support Senator Blumenthal amendment S.Amdt. 4056 to H.R. 4016
• Keep sharing https://change.org/54kveterans to keep direct public pressure on Senator Wicker and current Major Star Act Senate holdouts
Call script for Major Star Act cosponsors
Hello, I am [NAME] from [CITY], [STATE]. Thank you for cosponsoring the Major Richard Star Act. I am calling to ask the Senator to also cosponsor and publicly support Senator Richard Blumenthal amendment S.Amdt. 4056 to H.R. 4016. Can you confirm yes or no today. If you cannot answer now, please email me the Senator yes or no position at [EMAIL]. Thank you.
Call script for Major Star Act non cosponsors
Hello, I am [NAME] from [CITY], [STATE]. I am calling because the Senator is not a cosponsor of the Major Richard Star Act. I need two yes answers today. Will the Senator cosponsor the Major Richard Star Act. Will the Senator cosponsor and support Senator Richard Blumenthal amendment S.Amdt. 4056 to H.R. 4016. If you cannot answer now, email me the Senator yes or no position at [EMAIL]. Thank you.
Copy and paste social post options
Option 1
Senator Richard Blumenthal filed S.Amdt. 4056 to H.R. 4016 to move #MajorStarAct on FY2026 Defense Appropriations. This time we need every senator on record and we expect @SenatorWicker to stop blocking and stay out of the way. https://change.org/54kveterans
Option 2
New path for #MajorStarAct: Senator Richard Blumenthal filed S.Amdt. 4056 to H.R. 4016. Call your senator and demand support. And we expect @SenatorWicker to stop obstructing and stay out of the way. https://change.org/54kveterans
Option 3
Senator Richard Blumenthal filed S.Amdt. 4056 to H.R. 4016 for #MajorStarAct. Now every senator must back it and we expect @SenatorWicker to stop blocking and stay out of the way. https://change.org/54kveterans
Option 4
Senator Richard Blumenthal filed S.Amdt. 4056 to H.R. 4016 for #MajorStarAct. No more quiet holds. No more one senator veto. We expect @SenatorWicker to stop blocking and stay out of the way. https://change.org/54kveterans
Option 5
Senator Richard Blumenthal filed S.Amdt. 4056 to H.R. 4016 to move #MajorStarAct on a must pass defense bill. The Senate can prove it is serious now. We expect @SenatorWicker to stay out of the way this time. https://change.org/54kveterans
The 22 holdouts: A lump of coal list advocates can share
Article title:
22 Senators Who Prioritized Afghanistan Related Spending Over Earned Military Retired Pay for 54,000 Combat Injured Veterans
Why this article is important
• It names the 22 Senate non cosponsors and turns the fight into a public accountability list
• It explains how 77 cosponsors still allowed one objection to stop a vote
• It supports direct pressure by keeping the spotlight on Senator Wicker and current Major Star Act Senate holdouts, while advocates share https://change.org/54kveterans in parallel to drive public action