Senator Murkowski, others lead bipartisan bill to support military spouses and families

On Tuesday, Senator Lisa Murkowski, along with Senators Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, Jerry Moran from Kansas, and Jacky Rosen, representing Nevada, introduced the READINESS Act – legislation that supports military and foreign service spouses and their families by creating more job flexibility when a service member is deployed or transferred.

The bill, which was developed by current and former federally employed military spouses, aims to encourage the retainment of military spouses across the federal government and lower high employee turnover.

A House version was introduced by Representatives Don Bacon (R-Nebraska) and Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) in November.

Currently, military spouse unemployment has held over 20% for over 30 years, and is six times the national unemployment rate. More than one-third of military families cite spouse employment challenges as a reason for leaving active duty.

“Military spouses are critical support systems in their families—and I’m proud to lead the bipartisan READINESS Act to provide job and career support to them when their spouse faces deployment or transfer,” said Senator Murkowski.

Overseas tours, deployments, and regular rotation moves for military and foreign service moves are involuntary, with little say in where the servicemen and women are sent. The lack of agency flexibility often results in spouses being forced to resign. Often there is a lack of available jobs around many military bases, which can result have a negative impact on the family’s financial readiness and lead to career breaks or voluntary demotions. The READINESS Act could incentivize military service members to accept hardship orders or orders to locations with a negative availability of civilian jobs.

The READINESS Act would create a decision tree when an employee presents their supervisor with military or foreign service orders, and included in the decision-making process for employers would be three key questions: can this employee’s position be performed remotely; can they transfer to an agency position within the commuting area of the new location; or can they transfer to an agency position that can be performed remotely? If not, place them in a non-pay status (i.e., Leave Without Pay) for the greater of their spouse’s orders or 36 months – with the employing agency able to backfill the position, unencumbered.

“When the brave members of our military and Foreign Service are relocated or transferred to a new duty station, we should be doing everything we can to support their families who sacrifice so much to go with them—including sometimes having to leave their jobs,” said Senator Tammy Duckworth, who herself is a decorated Iraq War veteran flying combat missions, and retired after 23 years of service at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

“I’m proud to join Senator Murkowski to introduce this bipartisan legislation to ensure we provide our military and Foreign Service spouses with the flexibility and job support they need as their families make these transitions, reducing unemployment and strengthening military readiness.”

Her sentiments were echoed by Senator Moran, who said that military service is family service, and that while active duty members are deployed or transferred, the spouses often have to upend their careers.

“This legislation supports the well-being and the readiness of the family by providing increased flexibilities to federal agencies to maintain military and Foreign Service spouses, allowing continued work despite interruptions associated with their spouse’s military service.”

“Service members and their families make tremendous sacrifices for our country, and their frequent relocation to new duty assignments makes it difficult for military spouses to find steady employment,” said Senator Rosen.

“This legislation creates flexibilities that already exist in the federal government, and can help to retain quality workers while also ensuring that the spouses of service members can support their families. Our military spouses do so much for our country—and we should do what we can to make their service better,” added Senator Murkowski.