U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia wants to give employers an incentive to hire military spouses, calling it an issue of military readiness.
Military spouses have been facing a high unemployment rate of 22% in the past decade, according to the .
Kaine鈥檚 bill, the , would give employers a one-time federal tax credit of up to $2,400 for hiring a military spouse.
He said the bill expands the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, already in place, to include the hiring of a qualified military spouse. The WOTC allows employers who hire those who are , the bill said.
Kaine said when you hire a military spouse, you boost retention and force readiness. 鈥淵ou recruit the soldier, sailor, marine, airman or woman, but you retain the family,鈥� he said.
Kaine added that military spouses are great workers and have the skills employers are looking for.
鈥淔lexibility mission focused resiliency, you know drop me into a new location and I鈥檒l figure out the school system, I鈥檒l figure out health care and I鈥檒l figure out how to make new friends,鈥� Kaine said.
He introduced the same bill last year, and even though it didn鈥檛 pass, he thinks this year things will be different.
鈥淚 have very strong bipartisan partners on this in the Senate and also a bill in the House,鈥� Kaine said.
So far, 20 U.S. senators have gone on record in support of the bill.
