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WASHINGTON – Legislation backed by Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01) today had a hearing before the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.

The legislation, called the Military Residency Choice Act, is aimed at easing the tax burden on military families by allowing them to establish one consistent state of residency. Now that the bill has had a subcommittee hearing, it can be considered by the full Committee on Veterans Affairs before being brought the House floor for a vote.

"Making tax season less stressful is the least we can do for our military families," Rep. Wittman said. "Establishing a consistent state of residency will give spouses the confidence to re-join the workforce when they move and help them better provide for their families. Passing this simple residency fix will send a strong signal to our military families that we have their best interests at heart. I urge the House Committee on Veterans Affairs to continue advancing this bill through the process so we can get it to the floor for a vote."

Under current law, active duty service members are able to maintain one state of legal residency for tax purposes even when they move on military orders. Spouses may be granted the same benefit, but only if both service member and spouse have the same tax residence at the time of their marriage. This causes complications when service members move, sometimes multiple times a year, because spouses are forced to establish residency in each new location.

The Military Residency Choice Act will allow military spouses, if they so choose, to establish the same state of residency as the service member, so that for any future moves, they will retain the same state for tax and voting purposes.

The Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity has jurisdiction over education of veterans, employment and training of veterans, vocational rehabilitation, veterans' housing programs, readjustment of servicemembers to civilian life, and servicemembers civil relief.

Congressman Rob Wittman represents the 1st District of Virginia. He serves on the House Natural Resources Committee and the House Armed Services Committee, where he is Chairman of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee.