Gallego Backs Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Employment Opportunities for Military Spouses

WASHINGTON — Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ)backed the bipartisanMilitary Spouse Hiring Actto create incentives for businesses to hire military spouses.
“Our military and their families serve our country day in and day out. Their brave sacrifices should not be penalized,”said Senator Gallego.“This bill helps the nearly 8,000 active-duty spouses in Arizona travel and relocate when necessary without having to worry about career setbacks and financial instability.”
TheMilitary Spouse Hiring Actwould expand the existing Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) program – which provides tax credits to employers who hire people facing unique barriers to employment – to include military spouses. Military spouses experience rates of unemployment and underemployment higher than the national average, and frequent moves often stall military spouses’ upward career progression and force them to find new jobs.
Full text of the legislation is availableHERE.
This legislation builds on Senator Gallego’s record of advocating for veterans and military families. This year, he has introduced thePutting Veterans First Actto protect veterans and military spouses indiscriminately targeted by the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) cuts at VA and across the federal government; the bipartisanVeterans Education and Technical Skills (VETS) Opportunity Actto extend educational benefits in the post-9/11 GI Bill; theVA Home Loan Awareness Actto make it easier for those who have served our country to buy a home; and theVeteran Fraud Reimbursement Actto make it easier for veterans with disabilities to be made financially whole in the event they are defrauded of their benefits.
7/18/25