WASHINGTON – Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema cosponsored the bipartisan Jobs and Childcare for Military Families Act—legislation to boost hiring for military spouses and improve military families’ access to affordable childcare.
The bill expands the Work Opportunity Tax Credit to incentivize businesses to hire military spouses and allows military families to use flexible spending accounts to pay for childcare. The legislation is endorsed by Blue Star Families, Military Officers Association of America, National Military Families Association, and Servicewomen’s Action Network.
“Strengthening job opportunities for military spouses is the least we can do to thank our servicemembers and their families for the incredible sacrifices they make to keep Arizonans safe and secure,” said Sinema, a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee.
Sinema has long been a champion for military families, recently cosponsoring the Gold Star Families Tax Relief Act, which was passed by the Senate in May.
Sinema also recently introduced the Somers Network of Support Act, a bill named after an Arizona veteran who lost his life to suicide. The legislation, included in this year’s defense bill, empowers servicemembers and their families by requiring the Department of Defense to create networks of support for servicemembers. By directly engaging families and loved ones, the DOD can prepare and equip military friends and families to better understand military life, notice when a servicemember struggles, and ensure they have access to the necessary tools to help a servicemember get assistance or care.