I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO DISCUSS A BIPARTISAN BILL THAT I INTRODUCED THIS WEEK THAT WOULD HELP REDUCE THE BURDEN OF RELOCATION FOR MILITARY FAMILIES. WHEN SERVICE MEMBERS RELOCATE TO COMPLY WITH MILITARY ORDERS, THEY AND THEIR FAMILIES MAKE SACRIFICES TO HELP PROTECT OUR NATION. RIGHT NOW THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THE WAY THAT THE LAW TREATS SOME MILITARY SPOUSES THAT MAKE FREQUENT MOVES, AND THE LAW IRONICALLY MAKES IT EVEN HARDER ON THEM RATHER THAN EASIER ON THEM. CURRENT LAW ALLOWS ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS TO MAINTAIN ONE STATE OF LEGAL RESIDENCE FOR TAX AND VOTING PURPOSES, EVEN WHEN MILITARY ORDERS REQUIRE THEM TO RELOCATE. THAT MAKES MOVING A LOT EASIER. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS CONVENIENCE DOES NOT APPLY TO A SERVICE MEMBER SPOUSE UNLESS THEY WERE LIVING TOGETHER AT THE SAME RESIDENCE BEFORE THEY GOT MARRIED. SO IN OTHER WORDS, IF YOU WERE NOT LIVING WITH YOUR SERVICE MEMBER BEFORE YOU GOT MARRIED, YOU HAVE TO ESTABLISH RESIDENCY EVERY SINGLE TIME YOUR FAMILY GETS MOVING ORDERS FROM THE MILITARY. FROM FILING TAXES OR REGISTERING TO VOTE, A MILITARY FAMILY THEN HAS DOUBLE THE PAPERWORK AND STRESS EACH TIME THEY MOVE. THIS IS A LOOPHOLE THAT MUST BE FIXED. WHY WOULD WE MAKE IT HARDER FOR THE SPOUSES OF THOSE WHO ARE MAKING A SACRIFICE BY HAVING THEIR LOVED ONE SERVE OVERSEAS AND NOT MAKE IT EASIER FOR THEM TO VOTE AND TO PAY THEIR TAXES AND TO BASICALLY BE THE CITIZEN THAT THEY DESERVE TO BE? THAT'S WHY ON TUESDAY, SENATORS CORNYN, KAINE, KENNEDY, MANCHIN, AND I INTRODUCED THE SUPPORT OUR MILITARY SPOUSES ACT, LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ENSURE THAT SPOUSES HAVE THE SAME RESIDENCY PROTECTIONS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR LIVING ARRANGEMENTS BEFORE MARRIAGE. FROM TITLING A CAR TO FILING TAXES TO REGISTERING TO VOTE, EVERYTHING IS A LITTLE EASIER WHEN THE LAW ENSURES THAT YOU CAN STAY A RESIDENT OF ONE STATE AND IT'S THE SAME STATE AS YOUR SPOUSE. THAT'S JUST COMMON SENSE, AND IT CUTS A LOT OF RED TAPE OUT FOR MILITARY FAMILIES. THE BILL HAS THE SUPPORT OF THE BUILT SPOUSES' NETWORK, THE MILITARY OFFICERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, AND THE COUNCIL OF STATE GOVERNMENTS. THIS BILL PASSED THE HOUSE IN JULY OF 2017 WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, AND I AM GOING TO WORK WITH MY COSPONSORS TO GET IT DONE IN THE SENATE. WE ASK A LOT OF OUR MILITARY MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES. WHEN WE CAN MAKE LIFE EASIER FOR THEM, WE SHOULD. THIS IS ONE SIMPLE THING WE CAN DO.