Crockett, Bacon Introduce READINESS Act to Support Military Spouses and Families

WASHINGTON — Tomorrow, November 21, Congresswoman Crockett (TX-30) and Congressman Don Bacon (NE-02) will introduce the READINESS Act - legislation that will allow for more flexibility for working military and foreign services spouses when a servicemember is deployed or transferred. The bill is endorsed by several organizations, including Blue Star Families, the Military Family Advisory Network, and With Honor Action.

Currently, more than a third of military families cite difficulties finding spousal employment as a reason they are leaving active-duty service. A large factor in these high rates of attrition is a lack of flexibility and transparency for working military spouses during a servicemember's change of duty station. The READINESS Act allows military spouses to seek an individual determination about whether their job can be done remotely on a temporary basis, relocated to an area within commuting-distance, or transferred to a comparable job in-grade.

"The READINESS Act is a long-overdue fix to an issue that is costing our country some of the most dedicated, talented workers in our federal workforce. Without increased flexibility for working military spouses during periods of a servicemembers' redeployment or transfer, military families are being forced to choose between military service and financial stability for their families - and that isn't a choice we should be asking our servicemembers to make," said Rep. Crockett. "Thanks to the dedicated advocacy of military spouse advocates, greater flexibility and support is on the way. Thank you to Rep. Don Bacon for supporting this bipartisan effort to retain our country's best and brightest!"

“Spouse employment is one of the top issues servicemembers consider when making their decision to continue to serve in the military,” said Rep. Bacon. “Foreign service officers face similar challenges, and I’m determined to break down these barriers to continued service. My wife Angie packed, unpacked, and moved our family 16 times during my nearly thirty years in the Air Force, putting her career second. These federally-employed spouses support their significant others just like my wife did and we should guarantee they have the flexibility to remain in the federal service when forced to relocate through no choice of their own.”

“Military spouses have long been regarded as the ‘force behind the force’ enabling the service member to fulfill their mission of serving our country. Like most American households, military spouses also have career goals and aspirations of contributing to the financial well-being of their families,” said Shannon Razsadin, President and Executive Director of the Military Family Advisory Network (MFAN). “Yet, MFAN’s research shows that obstacles like frequent moves and access to childcare present unique barriers to dependable career options. This bipartisan effort, led by Representatives Crockett and Bacon, helps remove undue barriers to employment for military spouses — affording the government the opportunity to retain the immense talent this community brings to the workforce.”

"Military spouses largely lose their jobs when they move - more than two out of three in our research," said Blue Star Families CEO Kathy Roth-Douquet. "If we are ever going to end the military spouse unemployment crisis - which itself undermines our national security - we must find ways to retain military spouse employees through a military move, while proving this is both good for military families and good for business. With the READINESS Act, Representatives Crockett and Bacon are ensuring the federal government's long-term commitment to its military spouse employees and providing an example for the private sector to follow."

"America demands much from our military spouses and the least we can do is ensure we leave no stone unturned in helping them maintain their own careers in public service," said Tom Seaman, Legislative Director for With Honor Action. "With Honor Action is proud to support the READINESS Act which would provide that critical support.”

Click here to view a one-page summary of the READINESS Act.

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Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett represents portions of Dallas and Tarrant Counties, with the cities of Dallas, Grand Prairie, DeSoto, Cedar Hill, Lancaster, Duncanville, Glenn Heights, Hutchins, Wilmer, Arlington, Ovilla, and Seagoville.