As America salutes her military veterans this Veteran’s Day, we should not forget the daily sacrifices made by the loving families that support them. The average military family moves once every three years—adjusting to new homes, schools, neighborhoods, and jobs.  Unfortunately, too many government rules and regulations make these adjustments even more difficult for working military spouses to maintain careers and pursue civilian employment that supplements a soldier’s salary.

More and more occupations require licenses and government permission before workers may work in their chosen fields. Many state licenses demand additional schooling, fees, and long waiting periods—especially burdensome for military families on fixed incomes and often on the move. The result: higher unemployment rates among military spouses than comparable civilian populations.  Nearly three-quarters of military spouses who hold occupational licenses in one state must apply for new licensing when they move.  Ultimately, many spouses simply drop out of the labor force rather than pay the recurring fees and struggle with regulatory red-tape from state-to-state.

Today, in a new policy brief, The Buckeye Institute explains how Ohio can help working military spouses by recognizing their out-of-state licenses and occupational credentials. Such recognition would ease at least one of the burdens on our military families, while helping our local economies and communities.

Military men and women and their families make many sacrifices to serve our country. To support them and honor the sacrifices they make, Ohio should do its part to lighten the regulatory burdens that needlessly discourage working military spouses. By recognizing out-of-state licenses, Ohio can help military families who do so much to help us.