Southeast Allegheny News

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On June 20, Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) announced the Job Security for Military Families Act of 2023.  This bill would extend protections listed in the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) to military spouses, helping more spouses retain employment even if their family is required to relocate due to military duties. 

“Maintaining traditional employment and advancing in careers while relocating every few years—often while raising a family—has historically been an enormous challenge for military spouses,” said Rep. Deluzio. “Living as a military spouse should not mean that they are cornered into giving up career aspirations of their own. By expanding USERRA protections we can make sure military families have more options and military spouses can more easily find employment and feel confident in their job security.” 

USERRA prohibits discrimination in employment based on an individual’s prior service in the uniformed services; current service in the uniformed services; or intent to join the uniformed services. An employer is also prohibited from retaliating against a person because of such person’s attempt to enforce their rights, or the rights of others, under the Act. This act also provides for the continuation of health benefits for those covered by a health plan in connection with their employment who are absent from work to serve in the military.  

Military recruitment shortfalls are commonplace these days, attributed to both the difficulty of attracting new recruits and retaining current servicemembers. In the fall 2022 Department of the Army Career Engagement Survey, the top concern of Active Army Soldiers centered on family, including the impact of Army life on significant other’s career plans and goals. 

A 2021 Office of People Analytics Spouses Survey shows that Active Duty military spouse unemployment sits at 21%, six times the national average. It’s been 21% or higher since 2015 and rises even higher among spouses of junior enlisted members (31%), Army spouses (25%), and racial/ethnic minority spouses (26%). On average, military spouses seeking employment spend 19 weeks looking for a job and are 2.9 times more likely to be underemployed than their peers. A Permanent Change of Station (PCS) move, especially in the past 12 months, increased the odds of unemployment significantly. 

Expanding the group of covered people under this act to include military spouses would remove barriers to military spouse employment. In the long-term, this change could alleviate stressors on military families and would assist in the recruitment, retention, and readiness of our servicemembers. 

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Full bill text can be found here. 

Original source can be found here.