WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) introduced a package of bills to support servicemembers and veterans. He introduced the Medical Integrity in Necessary Diagnostics (MIND) for Our Veterans Act of 2025 with Elissa Slotkin (D-MI). The bipartisan bill ensures that servicemembers receive effective, evidence-based mental health screenings prior to separation from active duty. Ricketts also introduced the Service Members Tax Relief Act of 2025. The bill would fully exempt active duty and reserve military compensation from federal income taxes.
“Our servicemembers and veterans sacrifice for the country. We owe them more than we can ever repay,” said Ricketts.“That’s why I’m working to ensure these brave women and men keep all the benefits they earn during military service. We also need to make sure that servicemembers are set up for success when they transition back to civilian life. These bills strengthen our support for Nebraska servicemembers, veterans, and their families.”
“Far too many veterans moving from active duty to civilian status slip through the cracks, said Senator Slotkin of the MIND Our Veterans Act. “Having served alongside our military, I know that our veterans deserve nothing less than the highest medical standards when it comes to their mental health. The MIND Our Veterans Act is about making sure every servicemember gets the mental health care they’ve earned from day one of civilian life.”
The MIND Our Veterans Act would:
- Mandate that the Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) use only validated, evidence-based tools for screening PTSD, alcohol misuse, and violence risk during the separation process;
- Ensures that a drug-use assessment is considered a core part of mental health screening, recognizing the critical connection between substance use and mental health challenges;
- Directs Joint Executive Committee of the DoD and VA to oversee validation, implementation, and reporting on all screenings;
- Requires DoD to fully implement the improved Separation Health Assessment within 120 days, creating urgency and accountability.
This bill is endorsed by the American Legion.
Bill text can be found here.
The Service Members Tax Relief Act would:
- Amend the Internal Revenue Code to exclude all military compensation from gross income for federal tax purposes;
- Apply to both active duty and reserve members of the Uniformed Services of the United States;
- Maintain that retirement pay and pensions remain taxable under current law to preserve the distinction between active service compensation and post-service retirement benefits;
- Ensures that these changes take effect for income earned after the date of enactment.
Background
MIND Our Veterans Act
Every year, thousands of servicemembers transition from active duty into veteran status. This transition can bring significant challenges, especially when it comes to mental health. Research consistently shows that recently separated servicemembers face heightened risks of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance misuse, depression, and even suicide.
Currently, the Separation Health Assessment (SHA) lacks a standardized, validated mental health and drug-use screening. This jeopardizes early identification and intervention for servicemembers in crisis, leaving the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to address problems after they have escalated.
Service Member Tax Relief Act
Servicemembers’ basic pay is fully taxable, along with most forms of special duty pay and bonuses. While certain allowances like housing (BAH), subsistence (BAS), and combat zone pay are excluded, these exemptions only partially ease tax burdens.
While some states already exempt portions of military income, the federal tax system continues to treat active duty and reserve military salaries as taxable income. This legislation would recognize the extraordinary service of America’s men and women in uniform by ensuring they keep more of what they earn. This bill would support readiness, recruitment, and retention while honoring the sacrifices servicemembers make every day to defend the United States.
Companion legislation was introduced in the House by U.S. Representative Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ-8).
