FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 18, 2009

Carter to Re-introduce Military Spouses Residency Relief Act

(FORT HOOD, TEXAS) – Military spouses would be able to claim the same state residency as their service member husband or wife, under legislation scheduled to be re-introduced next week in Washington by U.S. Rep. John Carter (R-TX31).

Carter’s legislation passed the House during the last session of Congress but failed to become law before Congress adjourned in December.  The bill allows a military spouse who moves out of a state with their service member under military orders to have the option to claim the same state of domicile as their active duty spouse, regardless of where they are stationed. 

“We have long supported service member’s ability to continue voting and paying taxes in one state over the course of a military career as they are transferred around the world on orders,” says Carter, who represents Fort Hood, the U.S. Army’s largest base. “I feel it has been an egregious oversight spanning decades that we have not extended that stability to spouses as well, as they are impacted politically and economically just as much as the service member by these frequent and career-long moves.”

WHO: U.S. Rep. John Carter with supporting House and Senate members

WHAT: Military Spouses Residency Relief Act introduction to the 111^th Congress

WHEN: 11:00AM Wednesday, February 25