Springfield Standard

Senator Eric Schmitt and Senator John Ossoff have introduced the bipartisan Military Spouse Job Continuity Act aimed at supporting military families. Senator Schmitt emphasized the importance of making life easier for service members, stating, "Military spouses should not be required to shoulder the cost of fees and other charges related to professional licensing or certification when moving between duty stations." Senator Ossoff echoed this sentiment, highlighting the sacrifices made by military families and the need to expand economic opportunities for military spouses.

The proposed legislation, the Military Spouse Job Continuity Act, seeks to provide reimbursements to active-duty servicemembers' spouses for relicensing and business costs following relocation. According to the Department of Defense, nearly 39% of military spouses require a professional license for their jobs and can face unemployment with each move.

This new bill builds on the Senators' previous collaboration on the Military Spouse Career Support Act of 2023, which expanded reimbursement of licensure and business costs to spouses of servicemembers transferring to the reserve component. Senator Schmitt's support for Senator Patty Murray's SMART Save Act was also noted, demonstrating a commitment to improving financial literacy training for servicemembers and their families to ease their transition to civilian life.

The Military Spouse Job Continuity Act represents a bipartisan effort to address the challenges faced by military families and provide them with the support they need as they serve the nation.