Representative Miller Introduces Bi-partisan Legislation to Expand Tax Relief to all of Ohio's Uniform Services

COLUMBUS— State Rep. Adam C. Miller (D-Columbus) today introduced legislation that would ensure that all members of the uniformed services benefit from Ohio’s tax code. Currently, under federal law, “uniformed services” includes the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, Coast Guard, Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service (PHS). Ohio law uses the term “armed forces”, which leaves out NOAA and PHS personnel.

“The patriots of NOAA and the PHS serve alongside our military on the battlefield, in the eyes of hurricanes, and at military hospitals,” said Rep. Miller. “The Federal Government recognizes them as uniformed services. We should too. We want them to call Ohio home.”

The mission of the PHS is to protect, promote, and advance the health and safety of the United States. PHS officers respond to national crises like hurricanes, biological attacks, floods, acts of terrorism and other national crises. They have served alongside Armed Services in Iraq and Afghanistan and have led the way domestically in combating the COVID-19 pandemic.

NOAA provides weather forecasts, severe storm warnings, and climate monitoring to services that support the US economy and affect more than one-third of America’s GNP. NOAA officers are frequently transferred, serve extended periods at sea under hazardous conditions and operate a number of research aircraft that penetrate and monitor hurricanes at low levels to provide critical data for hurricane warnings.

Miller is the ranking member of the House Armed Services and Veterans Affairs Committee.