December 14, 2023

Castro, Fitzpatrick Introduce Legislation to Strengthen Retention and Decrease Financial Hardship for Intelligence Community Families

WASHINGTON — Today, Reps. Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), senior members of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, introduced the Intelligence Community Families Act, legislation that would strengthen retention and decrease financial hardship for Intelligence Community employees by extending certain benefits, including in-state tuition for eligible dependents, that are already provided to Foreign Service and military families.

“Every day, Intelligence Community families make personal sacrifices to serve our country. Last year, I was proud to author the bipartisan Foreign Service Families Act (FSFA), which provides career support for foreign service spouses, in-state tuition for the dependents of foreign service families stationed overseas, and other common-sense benefits. The Intelligence Community Families Act will build on the progress established in the FSFA and strengthen retention within our intelligence agencies by extending these same benefits to Intelligence Community families. As a Congress, we have a sacred responsibility to take care of those who take care of us,” said Congressman Castro.

"As a former FBI Special Agent, I understand firsthand the sacrifices that members of the intelligence community and their families make in service to our nation," said Congressman Fitzpatrick. "I am proud to join Congressman Castro in introducing this bipartisan legislation to ensure that families of members of the IC receive financial benefits under the Foreign Service Families Act."

The FY2022 National Defense Authorization Act included the Foreign Service Families Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by Congressman Castro and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) and Senator Chris Van Hollen and Senator Dan Sullivan that provided Foreign Service families with certain benefits that were already extended to military families. The Intelligence Community Families Act would amend the Foreign Service Families Act to include Intelligence Community families.

The full text of the legislation can be found here.