Elise Stefanik: “I thank Mr. Roe for his leadership. Mr. Speaker, my legislation included in this package gives all military spouses…”

“I thank Mr. Roe for his leadership. Mr. Speaker, my legislation included in this package gives all military spouses, regardless of which State they married in, the choice to establish the same State of residency as the servicemember for both voting and tax purposes. As the proud representative of Fort Drum and the Navy nuclear site at Kesselring, I understand the challenges military families face and the sacrifices these families make to help protect our Nation and safeguard our freedoms. Military families are constantly relocating to meet the needs of the military. They sacrifice so much during these relocations, uprooting their lives and disrupting their families. This is often a very difficult and trying time, with the heaviest burden falling upon military spouses, who serve as a critical support system for their loved ones Current law allows Active Duty servicemembers to maintain one State of legal residence for tax and voting purposes even when those servicemembers receive military orders requiring them to relocate, but this does not apply evenly to spouses. Spouses are forced to establish residency every time the servicemember receives a new assignment, adding additional stress to families as they manage these relocations and seek new employment. My legislation, the Military Residency Choice Act, fixes this inconsistency to better ease these trying transitions. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr.…”