Texas Sen. John Cornyn has introduced a measure which is designed to relieve at least some of the annoyance faced by the spouses of military personnel, who have to pick up stakes and move from state to state with their husband or wife every two or three years, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
Cornyn says his 'Support Our Military Spouses Act' would 'ensure that spouses of active duty service members would not have to establish new legal residency every time they move for a military reassignment.'
“Military spouses make many sacrifices alongside the service of their loved ones, including the difficulties that come from continual relocation,” Cornyn told News Radio 1200 WOAI in an interview. “This legislation would help alleviate stress by making it easier for them to establish residency for employment and voter registration so they can continue to provide for their families and cast their ballot during elections.”
Cornyn says a 2017 Blue Star Families Lifestyle Survey reported 72 percent of military families lived in their communities for two years or less, and a majority of families indicated they are experiencing high levels of stress associated with moving for the military.
Cornyn tells News Radio 1200 WOAI that he was inspired to introduce the measure when he met military spouses who are carrying for their wounded husbands or wives at military hospitals like SAMMC and Walter Reed.
"Frequently, it required the spouse or other family member to be the primary caretaker, and what that meant that the spouse had to quit their job."
Cornyn says there is bipartisan support for the bill, which would allow military spouses to use the same residence as their spouse after a military reassignment regardless of the couple’s residency at the time of the marriage.
"By allowing spouses to select and keep the same state of residency as their partner, the Support our Military Spouses Act will reduce confusion and ease transitions from year to year for these families," he said.