INCREASING JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR MILITARY SPOUSES, SINEMA BACKS BIPARTISAN BILL

Press Release

Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema cosponsored the Military Spouse Hiring Act -- bipartisan legislation that increases job opportunities for military spouses by incentivizing businesses to hire them.

"Arizona military spouses have made tremendous sacrifices supporting servicemembers and their families. Our bipartisan bill increases job opportunities for military spouses -- empowering them with more career options of their choice," said Sinema.

"To date, efforts to address high rates of unemployment among military spouses has focused on enhancing professional development and education, but we haven't seen the needle move below 20%," said Jennifer Goodale, Director of Military Family Policy at the Military Officers Association of America. "We need a multipronged approach that includes incentivizing businesses to hire these talented spouses who have to move every two to three years. The Military Spouse Hiring Act is a fiscally responsible approach to combating the spouse unemployment issue and it's time to apply this effective employment program to those who sacrifice so much to support our nation's military."

Sinema's legislation adjusts the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to include qualified military spouses within the Work Opportunity Tax Credit's targeted groups -- increasing job opportunities for military spouses. According to the U.S. Department of Defense, nearly 1 in 4 military spouses are unemployed. Because members of the military often are required to move, their spouses can be at a disadvantage.

The Military Spouse Hiring Act complements Sinema's bipartisan Military Spouse Employment Act, which provides federal agencies clear authority to hire and allow military spouses to work fully remotely -- ensuring the military spouse can continue serving the United States even if transferred to another location along with their spouse. The Senate Homeland Security Committee approved Sinema's bipartisan Military Spouse Employment Act in August.

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