U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) on June 12 cosponsored bipartisan legislation to provide both a Work Opportunity Tax Credit for military spouses and flexible spending arrangements to help military families pay for child care services.
“Supporting and increasing employment opportunities for military spouses has been one of my top priorities in the Senate,” said Sen. Tillis, chairman of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel. “This bipartisan legislation will build on the progress we have made over the last few years and incentivize businesses to hire military spouses.”
Sen. Tillis introduced the Jobs and Childcare for Military Families Act of 2019, S. 1802, with bill sponsor U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA).
If enacted, S. 1802 would expand the Work Opportunity Tax Credit to spur businesses to hire military spouses. The tax credit already is offered to businesses that hire populations in America facing employment barriers, including military veterans.
Additionally, the bill would make flexible spending accounts available to military families, who could opt in to reserve pre-tax dollars from their paychecks to pay for out-of-pocket child care expenses.
S. 1802 is endorsed by Blue Star Families, the Military Officers Association of America, the National Military Families Association, and Servicewomen’s Action Network.
The bill has been referred for consideration to the U.S. Senate Finance Committee.