WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill joined Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) in introducing legislation that would help military spouses more easily re-enter the workforce after a relocation. The Military Spouses Job Continuity Act offers a tax credit to any military spouse who has to renew or transfer a professional license due to a military Change of Station order.
Other co-sponsors of the legislation include Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Ben Nelson (D-NE), Ted Kaufman (D-DE) and Roland Burris (D-IL).
More than 1.1 million active duty service members in the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps and Navy received Change of Station orders from 2008 to 2009. With the frequency of Change of Station orders, most military spouses are already limited to career paths that allow them to follow their spouse. This legislation decreases this barrier for military spouses after relocation and helps them more easily re-enter the workforce by providing a tax credit of up to $500 when a military family moves across state lines.
The tax credit would be applicable for the renewal or transfer of a professional license in a range of fields including child care, nursing and health services, all of which are common occupations of military spouses.
U.S. Representative Kathy Dahlkemper (D-PA) introduced the House version of the Military Spouses Job Continuity Act (HR 4693) earlier this year.
The National Military Family Association has endorsed the Military Spouses Job Continuity Act.
