The Military Spouses Residency Relief Act (MSRRA) signed into law on November 11, 2009, was originally introduced by Congressman

John Carter (Texas) John Rice Carter (born November 6, 1941) is the U.S. representative serving since 2003. He is a Republican. The district includes the northern suburbs of Austin, as well as Fort Cavazos. Early life, education, and career Carter was born in Ho ...

during the

110th United States Congress The 110th United States Congress was a List of United States Congresses, meeting of the United States Congress, legislative branch of the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government, between January 3, 2007, and J ...

. The MSRRA was written to amend the

Servicemembers Civil Relief Act The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (formerly called the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940) (codified a50 U.S.C. §§ 3901—4043 is a United States federal law that protects soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, coast guardsmen, and ...

(SCRA) to include protection of military spouses, with regards to voting, property and taxes, and provide equitable treatment of military spouses. Congressman Carter sponsored the bill after two military spouses, Army spouse Rebecca Noah Poynter and Navy spouse Joanna Williamson, approached him about residency concerns resulting from military moves and increasing deployments due to the War on Terrorism. Military spouses were required to become a resident of the state where they resided, in contrast to service members that could maintain a home state. During the bill's life in the 110th Congress, H.R. 6070 had 72 co-sponsors. It is believed that the bill could have passed during the 110th Congress but due to the housing crisis in 2008 it was quickly dismissed. On February 25, 2009, of the

111th United States Congress The 111th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government from January 3, 2009, until January 3, 2011. It began during the last weeks of the George W. Bush administration, with t ...

, Congressman Carter reintroduced MSRRA; H.R. 1182. Senator

Richard Burr Richard Mauze Burr (born November 30, 1955) is an American businessman and politician who served as a United States senator from North Carolina from 2005 to 2023. A member of the Republican Party, Burr was previously a member of the United Stat ...

introduced the companion bill, S. 475, to the Senate Committee of Veterans' Affairs on February 25, 2009. Rebecca Poynter testified at the Senate Committee of Veterans' Affairs in April. May 7, 2009 MSRRA passed a Senate floor vote.

Supporting Organizations

During the Congressional bill process,

Military Officers Association of America The Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) is a professional association of United States military officers. It is a nonprofit organization that advocates for a strong national defense, but is politically nonpartisan. The association ...

(MOAA) was the lead veteran organization with these organizations also in support: *

American Legion The American Legion, commonly known as the Legion, is an Voluntary association, organization of United States, U.S. war veterans headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. It comprises U.S. state, state, Territories of the United States, U.S. terr ...

Veterans of Foreign Wars The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), formally the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, is an Voluntary association, organization of United States Armed Forces, United States war veterans who fought in wars, Military campaign, campaig ...

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) veterans organization founded by Paul Rieckhoff, an American writer, social entrepreneur, advocate, activist and veteran of the United States Army and the Iraq War. He ser ...

Air Force Sergeants Association The Air Force Sergeants Association (AFSA) is a non-profit organization representing the professional and personal interests of nearly 111,000 active, retired and veteran total enlisted members of the United States Air Force and their families. ...

Paralyzed Veterans of America The Paralyzed Veterans of America was established in 1946 with the goal of serving the needs of disabled veterans. The organization was created to assist members, such as veterans of the armed forces living with spinal cord injuries or diseases l ...

AMVETS American Veterans (AMVETS) is a non-partisan, volunteer-led organization formed by World War II veterans of the United States military. It advocates for its members as well as for causes that its members deem helpful to the nation at large. The g ...

Vietnam Veterans of America Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc. (VVA) is a national non-profit corporation founded in 1978 in the United States that is committed to serving the needs of all veterans. It is funded without any contribution from any branch of government. VVA is t ...

Enactment

During the bills life in the House, H.R. 1182 had 208 co-sponsors. It was on its way for full

House Veterans' Affairs Committee The standing committee, standing Committee on Veterans' Affairs in the United States House of Representatives oversees agencies, reviews current legislation, and recommends new Act of Congress, bills or amendments concerning U.S. military veteran ...

vote when S. 475 was signed into law. The bill S. 475 had 44 co-sponsors. It passed the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee and passed during House floor debate on November 2, 2009. A team from the Military Spouse Business Association, Rebecca Noah Poynter, Joanna Williamson, Rikki Winters, Lynn Carroll, Lanette Lepper, and Kara Acosta, led a support campaign to include a Facebook site of military families. The grassroots and virtual Facebook social media campaign built to 22,000 allowing public support from military families across the country to be expressed to legislators. Military Spouses and supporters across the nation (Pete Seidler, Cynthia Wass Shepard, Carolyn Duft LeVering, Susan Cross Johnston, David Etheridge, Rick Trevino) volunteered virtually to increase support by contacting Senate and House Offices, and answering questions. On

Veterans Day Veterans Day (originally known as Armistice Day) is a federal holiday in the United States observed annually on November 11, for honoring military veterans of the United States Armed Forces. It coincides with holidays in several countries, i ...

, November 11, 2009, President Barack Obama signed . The

President of the United States The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president directs the Federal government of the United States#Executive branch, executive branch of the Federal government of t ...

, Barack Obama, issued a press release after he signed the bill. The Military Times called the bill "landmark legislation" for military families.

Support

* MOAA. * Military Spouse Business Association *

. * VFW. *

The American Legion The American Legion, commonly known as the Legion, is an organization of U.S. war veterans headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. It comprises state, U.S. territory, and overseas departments, in turn made up of local posts. It was established ...

. *

Air Force Association The Air & Space Forces Association (AFA) is an independent, 501(c)(3) non-profit, professional military association for the United States Air Force and United States Space Force. Headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, its declared mission is " ...

. *

* Military Spouses Coalition

Additional Updates to SCRA

# Senator

Jon Tester Raymond Jon Tester (born August 21, 1956) is an American politician and farmer who served from 2007 to 2025 as a United States Senate, United States senator from Montana and from 2005 to 2007 as president of the Montana Senate. A member of the ...

introduced the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018, S. 2248, during the

115th United States Congress The 115th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States of America federal government, composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C., from January 3, 2017, to January ...

. The bill that became Public Law No
115-407
again amends the

(SCRA) to provide expanded protections for military spouses with regard to voting and taxes. # Veterans Auto and Education Improvement Act of 2022, H.R. 7939, during the

117th United States Congress The 117th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It convened in Washington, D.C., on January ...

. The bill became Public Law No
117-333
ref> modifies the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act.

References

{{Reflist, 30em United States federal defense and national security legislation United States federal judiciary legislation Proposed legislation of the 110th United States Congress Military personnel United States federal legislation articles needing infoboxes Acts of the 111th United States Congress

Supporting Organizations

Enactment

Sponsors

Support

Additional Updates to SCRA

References