Kaine, Boozman, Hassan & Rounds Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Increase Hiring of Military Spouses
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Co-Chair of the Senate Military Families Caucus, John Boozman (R-AR), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Mike Rounds (R-SD) introduced the Military Spouse Hiring Act, legislation that would amend the U.S. tax code to create incentives for businesses to hire military spouses. Companion legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representatives Don Beyer (D-VA-08), Mike Kelly (R-PA-16), John Carter (R-TX-31) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19).
The Military Spouse Hiring Act would expand the existing Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) program—which provides tax credits to employers who hire people facing unique barriers to employment—to include military spouses. Military spouses experience rates of unemployment and underemployment higher than the national average, and frequent moves often stall military spouses’ upward career progression and force them to find new jobs.
“Our servicemembers and their families make sacrifices day in and day out to protect us and our national security,” said Kaine. “We owe military families a debt of gratitude and support—including when it comes to juggling frequent moves with building their careers. By incentivizing the hiring of military spouses, the Military Spouse Hiring Act will help bring down the obstacles that America’s talented military spouses too often face when seeking work opportunities, and reduce financial instability among military families that can cause servicemembers to leave even if they want to continue serving. I am proud to be introducing this commonsense bill alongside colleagues from both parties.”
“Spouses of servicemembers play an integral part in the support system that bolsters America’s military,” said Boozman. “Part of their sacrifice includes factors, like relocation, that can make it difficult to access meaningful career opportunities. This bipartisan legislation is a commonsense effort that will encourage employers to hire military spouses and benefit from their unique skills and experiences.”
“Military families make tremendous sacrifices to help keep our country safe, secure, and free. The often-frequent relocations required of military families can make it harder for military family members to find jobs,” said Hassan. “This bipartisan bill incentivizes companies to hire military spouses – helping them get jobs – and is a crucial way that we can continue to support our service members and their families.”
“Our service members and their families are willing to sacrifice so much for our country,” said Rounds. “One of these sacrifices includes moving from one assignment to the next, which can make it difficult for military spouses to secure a job and for employers to hire them. We owe it to our service members and their families to remove obstacles hindering their financial well-being. I’m pleased to reintroduce this legislation, which would expand the Work Opportunity Tax Credit to include military spouses to help remove one barrier, giving our military families the opportunities they deserve.”
"Employing military spouses is a strategic issue with direct ties to force readiness and the retention of experienced warfighters. And in 2025, having two household incomes is a baseline requirement. This bill eases an employer's path to hiring from this talented pool of dedicated workers to invest in both military families and the viability of the all-volunteer force," Lt. Gen. Brian Kelly, USAF (Ret), president and CEO of the Military Officers Association of America, said. "MOAA wants to thank Sens. Kaine, Boozman, Hassan and Rounds and Reps. Beyer, Kelly, Panetta and Carter for their ongoing work to support military spouses and families.”
“Hiring a military spouse isn’t just good for a business, it’s good for America,” said Besa Pinchotti, CEO of the National Military Family Association. “Expanding the Work Opportunity tax Credit to include military spouses incentivizes businesses to employ military spouses, a highly qualified talent pool. It also supports military family financial security—ensuring our military is always ready. We’re grateful to Senators Boozman and Kaine and Representatives Kelly and Beyer for introducing this important legislation.”
The Military Spouse Hiring Act is supported by the Air & Space Forces Association (AFA), Air Force Sergeants Association (AFSA), Association of Military Surgeons of the United States (AMSUS), Chief Warrant Officers Association of the US Coast Guard (CWOA), Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States (EANGUS), Fleet Reserve Association (FRA), Jewish War Veterans (JWV), Marine Corps League (MCL), Military Chaplains Association (MCA), Military Family Advisory Network (MFAN), Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH), Military Spouse Advocacy network (MSAN), National Defense Committee (NDC), National Military Family Association (NMFA), National Military Spouse Network (NMSN), Non Commissioned Officers Association (NCOA), Reserve Organization of America (ROA), Service Women’s Action Network (SWAN), The American Legion (TAL), The Retired Enlisted Association (TREA), Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), United States Army Warrant Officers Association (USA WOA), Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), and the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP).
As a Senator representing one of the most military-connected states in the country, Kaine has been a consistent advocate for policies that help military families. In 2019, Kaine secured the inclusion of key elements of his 2018 Military Spouse Employment Act in the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act—including provisions that expanded hiring and career opportunities for military spouses, improved access to continuing education programs, increased small business opportunities for military spouses, provided more opportunities for family wellness programs on military bases, and addressed the constant transfers and moves military families experience.
The legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), John Hoeven (R-ND), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Rick Scott (R-FL), Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Jerry Moran (R-KS), and Tom Cotton (R-AR).
Full text of the legislation is available here. A summary of the legislation is available here.
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