REP. SHERI BIGGS: New Bill Ensures America’s Warfighters Will No Longer Be Left Behind

As a Lieutenant Colonel in the Air National Guard, I have flown into combat zones and cared for wounded warriors in the air. I have seen firsthand the courage, grit, and sacrifice that define our nation’s armed forces. I have also seen the strain — financial, emotional, and spiritual — that too many of our military families endure while they answer the call to serve. 

That is why I am introducing the FIGHTER Act (Fortifying Income by Giving our Heroes their Earned Tax Relief) to provide long-overdue tax relief to America’s active duty servicemembers. 

Under this legislation, regular compensation earned through active-duty military service will no longer be subject to federal income taxes. Simply put: If you are wearing the uniform and serving this country on active duty, you deserve to keep what you have earned. (RELATED: US Military Set To Deploy More Than A Thousand Active Duty Troops To Southern Border, Reports Indicate)

NEAR IRAQI BORDER, KUWAIT – MARCH 19: U.S. Army 3rd Division 3-7 Bradley fighting vehicles take up a position along a road March 19, 2003 inside the demilitarized zone between Kuwait and Iraq. U.S. and British forces continue to make preparations for an invasion of Iraq as a deadline for Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein to go into exile or face war draws to a close. (Photo by Scott Nelson/Getty Images)

This bill is about honoring commitments. It is about ensuring appreciation, gratitude, and loyalty for exceptionalism. And it is about proving to the next generation who are wondering if a career in the military is for them, that yes, we do still care about our nation’s heroes and we support those who defend our freedoms. 

Simply stated, the FIGHTER Act will provide both immediate and meaningful, long-term reduction in tax burdens. For young, enlisted troops, who often earn far less than their civilian peers, every dollar matters. This tax relief will help military families better afford housing, groceries, childcare, and other essentials. It will also ensure that our recruits and those seeking reenlistment know America is fighting for our warfighters.

Importantly, this legislation includes a safeguard: Members of Congress who are serving in the Armed Forces — and those members recently retired from Congress — are excluded from receiving this exemption. That includes me. I will continue to pay taxes on my military compensation — because this bill isn’t about helping politicians. It is about making sure politicians remember who truly fights for this nation. (RELATED: 100-Year-Old WWII Veteran Who Spent Months As POW Receives Purple Heart 80 Years Later)

As a conservative, I have also ensured that this measure is fiscally responsible. That’s why I support pairing this effort with commonsense savings — like those being identified through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) — targeting bureaucratic waste, inefficiency, and duplication.  

For generations, our service members have defended freedom at home and abroad. They have fought for us, and it is past time we fight for them. The FIGHTER Act is a small but powerful way to say, “We see you. We appreciate you. And we’re going to fight for you because you bravely fight for us.” 

This is more than a tax policy — it is a message of gratitude. It’s a reaffirmation of our values. And it is a promise that in a time of growing global threats, America will always stand with — and fight for — her warriors. 

Now is the time to act. Let’s give our heroes the relief they have earned.

Congresswoman Sheri Biggs is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Air National Guard and a Republican from Salem, South Carolina. She is currently serving as Congresswoman in her first term in office. In Congress, she serves on the Homeland Security; Foreign Affairs; and Science, Space, and Technology Committees.