WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Patty Murray (D-WA), joined by Senators John Hoeven (R-ND) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV), introduced bipartisan legislation that would designate April as the “Month of the Military Child,” celebrating and honoring the commitment, service and sacrifices made by the 1.6 million children in military families. 

“Military service is a family affair, including the sons and daughters of our servicemembers. There are not enough words to acknowledge the costs and sacrifices, like countless moves and long separations during deployments, that they bear,” said Boozman. “I am proud to come together in a bipartisan way to recognize every military child and express our gratitude for selflessly sharing their parents with the noble cause of defending our nation.”

“I know first-hand that when your parent is in the military, it is a commitment the entire family makes to this country. Military children deserve to be celebrated and acknowledged for the heroic commitments they make to their families in service,” said Murray. “I will always be a voice for Washington state’s servicemembers and their families, and I am proud to partner with Senator Boozman to recognize military children for the sacrifices they make every single day for their families’ service to our country.”

“Military children show incredible resilience as they navigate the unique challenges of military life,” said Hoeven. “From frequent moves to long deployments, they stand strong beside their families with courage. Their sacrifices often go unseen, but their service to our nation deserves to be celebrated.”

“When someone chooses to serve our nation in uniform, their entire family joins in the sacrifice. Military children have to move around frequently, change schools multiple times, and spend special occasions without a parent,” said Rosen. “They deserve our gratitude and recognition, which is why I’m proud to help introduce this resolution to designate April as the Month of the Military Child.”

Boozman is the son of an Air Force Master Sergeant who served in World War II and Korea. He learned at an early age about the sacrifices by men and women in uniform, as well as the unique challenges military families face. As a senior member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, he is committed to enhancing the quality of life for both veterans and their families. 

Earlier this year, Boozman and Murray introduced the Helping Heroes Act, which would support the families of disabled veterans, including children who take on caregiving roles. This bill recognizes the work done by the approximately 2.3 million children under the age of 18 living in a household with a disabled veteran and seeks to provide critical support and assistance to these children in accessing local, state and federal resources.

Click here for full text of the legislation.