Military Spouse Residency Relief Act

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Good news on the homefront!  The Military Spouse Residency Relief Act was passed by Congress last week and is awaiting the President's signature.


Here is the body of the press release:


Washington, DC -Tuesday, November 3, 2009. A comprehensive military
family legislation, the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act (S 475
and HR 1182), which will legally recognize military spouses by
providing them the option to claim the same state of domicile as their
active duty spouse, passed through the House and Senate with strong
bipartisan support, and is now being brought before the President to
become a law.



The bill was introduced by Congressman John Carter (R-TX), who
represents Fort Hood, the largest military installation in the country.
"This is fantastic news for our service families worldwide," says
Carter, who has been pushing the legislation for the last three years.



Senators Richard Burr (R-NC) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) introduced the
companion bill into the Senate, which passed unanimously in August. The
legislation will amend the Servicemember's Civil Relief Act (SCRA) of
1940 allowing military spouses to share a home state with their spouse,
the service member.




Currently, military spouses experience impediments in voting and
property ownership as well as deterrents in employment and education.
The bill offers fair treatment of the military spouse and improves the
quality of life for military families by allowing the stability of a
single state of domicile to call home.



Over 8,000 military spouses, friends and family members united to
support the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act on Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Military-Spouses-Residency-Relief-Act/51457362877
They shared their individual stories as they contacted Congressional
representatives to ask for support. Initially, Army Spouse, Rebecca
Poynter and Navy Spouse, Joanna Williamson, approached Congressman
Carter with their request to petition. "It has been a grass roots
effort by thousands of spouses across the country, who have campaigned
to get this passed, by telling their stories," explains Poynter.



"The support from Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) and
the Veterans Service Organizations who testified in our support is
greatly appreciated," said Williamson, "and together we claim this
victory for all military families."


This is exciting news for military spouses and will undoubtedly save us all time and possibly even money.


More info on how the MSRRA impacts your income taxes.


State-by-state Links to MSRRA information.

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