Military Spouse Hiring Act

Military Spouse Hiring Act

This bill expands the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) to include the hiring of a qualified military spouse. (The WOTC permits employers who hire individuals who are members of a targeted group such as qualified veterans, ex-felons, or long-term unemployment recipients to claim a tax credit equal to a portion of the wages paid to those individuals.)

A qualified military spouse is any individual who is certified by the designated local agency as being (as of the hiring date) a spouse of a member of the Armed Forces.

Bill 118 hr 1277, also known as the Military Spouse Hiring Act, is a piece of legislation introduced in the US Congress. The purpose of this bill is to address the high unemployment rate among military spouses by providing incentives for employers to hire and retain them.

The bill proposes several measures to achieve this goal. Firstly, it would provide tax credits to employers who hire military spouses. These tax credits would serve as an incentive for businesses to prioritize hiring military spouses, who often face challenges in finding and maintaining employment due to frequent relocations and other factors related to their spouse's military service.

Additionally, the bill would require federal agencies to prioritize the hiring of military spouses for certain positions. This would help ensure that military spouses have access to job opportunities within the federal government, which can provide stability and benefits that are especially important for families that move frequently. Overall, the Military Spouse Hiring Act aims to support military families by addressing the unique employment challenges faced by military spouses. By providing incentives for employers to hire and retain military spouses, as well as prioritizing their hiring within the federal government, this bill seeks to reduce unemployment rates among military spouses and improve their economic security.