Monday, November 02, 2009

Congress is sending to the president a bill that allows military spouses to claim residency in the same state as their wives or husbands.

Military spouses lobbied for the change.

Under current law, service members can choose to keep their original residency as they relocate. Spouses say having that same right would prevent hassles associated with every move such as obtaining a new driver's license and reregistering to vote.

Moving is a ritual repeated nearly every three years on average for military families.

The legislation has passed the House on a voice vote, where it was sponsored by Texas Rep. John Carter. It previously passed the Senate.