FRA Supports Legislation

FRA supports a variety of bills that seek to enhance the quality of life for service personnel and their families:

Working Spouses:  The Military Spouses Employment Act of 2006 (H.R. 5081) aims to provide a tax incentive to employers who hire qualified military spouses. The bill, which seeks to expand the Workforce Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) to include spouses of military personnel, was introduced by Rep. John Carter (Texas) and has 105 cosponsors. 

Department of the Navy and Marine Corps:  Introduced by Honorary Shipmate and North Carolina Representative Walter Jones, H.R. 34 proposes to redesignate the Department of the Navy as the “Department of the Navy and Marine Corps.”  The measure has 120 cosponsors and is the focus of an online petition drive spearheaded by a group of Marine Corps veterans. According to a recent Washington Post article (12 April 2006, “Equal Billing for Marines?”), the group has garnered 28,500 signatures in support of Jones’ bill.  To sign the petition, visit www.dnmc.us.

Call Home:  Senator Ted Stevens (Alaska) introduced the Call Home Act of 2006 (bill number is not yet available) in order to reduce telephone rates for Armed Services personnel deployed overseas.  As written, the measure does not include U.S. Coast Guard personnel, and FRA is urging Stevens to expand bill language to include all members of the uniformed services.