Military Spouse Appreciation Day

Our nation asks so much of military families. They are the foundation upon which our Armed Forces is built and their strength and sacrifice are essential to our national security. On a day like Military Spouse Appreciation Day, we should not only express our gratitude, but double down on our efforts to support military families.

One major challenge that military families face is the requirement for Permanent Change of Station (PCS) moves, often across state lines. These moves are necessary as a servicemember’s career advances, but they are profoundly turbulent for their families, who must move house, change schools, and say farewell to friends. I have heard from military spouses whose employment options were directly impacted by a move.

That’s why I am proud to be the lead sponsor of the Military Spouse Job Continuity Act. This bipartisan bill would offer a tax credit up to $500 to any military spouse who requires a renewal or transfer of a professional license due to a government ordered move across state lines. The tax credit would apply to administrative fees paid to licensing boards or certificate-granting institutions.

The 2013 Military Spouse Employment Survey, conducted by the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) and the Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University, found that 90% of responding female spouses of active duty service members report being underemployed. According to this study, “Over 50% of respondents indicated their chosen career field requires licensing or certification and 73% requires renewal/reissuing after a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) move, costing an average of $223.03.”

The same survey found that military families are often separated by these challenges. Spouses are faced with the choice of following their servicemember in a PCS move or maintaining their career. 18% of spouses said they lived separately to maintain their career and 15% said they lived in a different location because there was a lack of employment opportunities in their spouse’s location.

We have a responsibility to alleviate this obstacle facing military spouses who want to find employment in their field. This is a commonsense reform that will have a meaningful impact on our military families. It is time to pass the Military Spouse Job Continuity Act!