Senator’s Military Spouse Employment Act strengthens job security and opportunities for military spouses
TUCSON – Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema held a roundtable discussion with military spouses at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base to discuss the unique challenges they face finding and keeping jobs.
“Arizona military spouses make tremendous sacrifices supporting servicemembers and their families – and yet, too many struggle to find and maintain strong careers. Through commonsense solutions like our Military Spouse Employment Act, we’re strengthening career opportunities for military spouses,” said Sinema.
Military spouse unemployment is consistently much higher than the national average, with a recent survey finding that spouse unemployment was the biggest stressor for the second year in a row for servicemembers and their partners.
Military spouses face unique challenges in finding and maintaining employment, including frequent relocation due to new orders and the high cost of childcare. Sinema recently introduced her bipartisan Military Spouse Employment Act – legislation granting federal agencies the authority to hire military spouses for remote work and allow military spouses to retain their positions should they be transferred to another location, providing certainty that they can care for their families no matter where life takes them.
In March, Sinema sent a letter to the Office of Personnel Management asking them to reform the guidance on military spousal hiring preferences.
Locally focused and responsive to Arizona veterans and their families’ needs, Sinema and her Veteran Advisory Council empower veterans to build better lives, support military spouses and families, address mental health challenges, and strengthen access to VA health care.
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