[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 24 (Wednesday, February 5, 2025)]
[House]
[Page H466]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      SUPPORTING MILITARY FAMILIES

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Vindman) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. VINDMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a bipartisan 
bill, the Support Military Families Act, that upholds our commitment to 
both our Federal workforce and the families of those who serve our 
country in uniform.
  As a 25-year Army veteran, I know the professional sacrifice our 
military spouses make for the Nation. My wife, Cindy, has had a 
wonderful career alongside mine, but it was a challenge to make it work 
with what the Army required of me.
  Last week, my office heard from a constituent who works remotely for 
the headquarters of a Federal agency in Washington, D.C. Her husband is 
an Active-Duty servicemember stationed in Virginia, and they cannot 
relocate. She has only three options to comply with President Trump's 
return-to-work executive order: Her husband can leave the military, she 
can drive 200 miles round trip to D.C. every day, or she can leave her 
job of more than 18 years.
  That is a choice that no military family should have to make. That is 
why I am introducing this bipartisan bill, my first bill as a Member of 
Congress, to exempt military spouses from the in-person work mandate. I 
do so with my good friend, Representative Robert Wittman, who is a 
tremendous champion for our military and their families.
  This commonsense and simple solution guarantees that those serving 
our country in uniform can continue their mission, that our Federal 
agencies retain experienced staff, and that military families remain 
together.
  Supporting military families is not a partisan issue. It is an 
American issue. This isn't just one family's story. It is a reality for 
countless military spouses across the country.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join 
in standing up for the military families who sacrifice so much for our 
country.

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