Blunt’s Military Family Stability Act signed into law

U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.) announced that his Military Family Stability Act was signed into law as part of the National Defense Authorization Act conference report. The measure, which Blunt introduced in May of this year, will increase flexibility for military families by allowing them to either move early or remain at their current duty station for up to six months when a service member receives a new assignment.

“Military families make countless sacrifices on behalf of our nation, and it’s our job to ensure they have the support they need to help manage the many challenges that come with military life. This bipartisan bill will give military families more flexibility to relocate at a time that allows a child to start or finish a school year in one place, or makes it easier for a spouse to pursue their own professional or educational goals.”

For many military families, the cost of maintaining two residences when faced with an ill-timed move is simply unfeasible. This bill will provide much-needed flexibility for families at no cost to the Department of Defense.

Blunt continued, “Our nation’s military has evolved over the past decades, and we need to make sure the policies affecting their families do as well. I’ll continue working with my colleagues to ensure we have policies in place to provide the support military families and veterans deserve.”

According to a study by the Military Officers Association of America, 90 percent of military spouses who are women are either unemployed or underemployed. More than half cite concerns about their spouse’s service as a deterrent for prospective employers.

The Military Family Stability Act has garnered widespread support from major veteran service and military family organizations, including: the National Military Family Association, the Military Officers Association of America, the Military Child Education Coalition, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Blue Star Families, the National Guard Association of the United States and the Veterans Support Foundation.