While the last time the draft was in effect was between 1948 and 1973, only men have been subject to conscription or registration with the Selective Service System in the history of the United States. Now, lawmakers are looking to change that.
On Wednesday, the House Armed Services Committee brought the U.S. one step closer, voting to require that women register for the draft.
During late night deliberations on the committee's annual defense policy bill, lawmakers voted 35-24 to adopt an amendment from Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.) to expand registration for the Selective Service System beyond men.
The move caps off a contentious debate and could stir up conservative opposition to the National Defense Authorization Act, which authorizes defense spending and lays out military policy. […]
Calls to broaden the pool for a potential draft to all Americans, not just men, have grown as the Pentagon opened all military combat roles to women in 2015. Advocates of the change also contend the current system is discriminatory.
"It's past time," said Houlahan, an Air Force veteran. "Women make up over 50 percent of our population, and not including them in the Selective Service is not only a disservice to these women, but also to our nation as a whole."
If the provision remains in the defense bill and passes on the House floor, the change has a high chance of becoming law. The Senate Armed Services Committee adopted a similar provision in its defense bill, which awaits a floor vote.
Current law requires that American men register for the Selective Service when they turn 18, though there hasn't been a military draft in more than four decades. The law, however, remains on the books should the U.S. need to conscript men into the service in a time of war. (Politico)
Several Republicans joined Democrats in passing the measure.
GOP Rep. Mike Waltz argued the inclusion of women in the draft is necessary in case of an emergency.
"Whatever the emergency is, if it's so great that we have to go to a draft, we need everybody," Waltz said, reports the Military Times. "We need men, women, gay, straight, any religion, Black, white, brown. We need all hands on deck."
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Other Republicans were adamant that requiring women to register is the wrong move.
"The Democrats filed an amendment to the NDAA tonight to add women to the draft. I voted NO! #DontDraftOurDaughters," Rep. Mark Green said on Twitter.
