Senate Democrats have again added language to the annual defense authorization bill to require women to register for the draft. This prompts a backlash from Republicans and conservatives, thus delaying the chances of moving the bill to the Senate floor before Election Day.
Conservatives are attempting to remove the provision requiring women to register for the draft. This could present a tough vote for Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) and other Democrats in tight reelection races.
Against
Republican candidate Sam Brown, who is running against Rosen, is already making noise in the Nevada Senate race.
Brown said,
Forcing America’s daughters to register for the draft is UNACCEPTABLE. Shame on Jacky Rosen [1].
Senator Josh Hawley, from Missouri, called the provision requiring women to sign up for the draft “insane.” He went on to say,
There shouldn’t be women in the draft. They shouldn’t be forced to serve if they don’t want to [2].
Previously, Hawley had led efforts to remove language requiring women to sign up for the draft from the defense authorization bill in 2021 and 2022.
National Republican Senatorial Committee Chair Steve Daines commented,
Brave Montana men and women carry out the Treasure State’s rich legacy of service by voluntarily joining our nation’s military. There is no need to force our nation’s daughters to enter the draft [3].
For
Leading the fight to keep the wording is Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Jack Reed (D-R.I.). He defends the proposed policy change by arguing that women can hold many warfighting positions without necessarily serving as front-line infantry troops. He said,
Women are doing a remarkable job in our forces today, and if we were in a situation requiring a draft, I think we would need all able-bodied citizens 18 and above [4].
He then added,
We need cyber experts, we need intelligence analysts, linguists [5].
However, Senate Republicans are doubting whether the Senate Majority Leader will even bring the bill to the floor anytime soon, given the dwindling number of days on the legislative calendar before the election.
Notes:
- ^{Firestorm erupts over requiring women to sign up for military draft} (go back ↩)
- ^{{Firestorm erupts over requiring women to sign up for military draft} (go back ↩)
- ^ {Firestorm erupts over requiring women to sign up for military draft} (go back ↩)
- ^ {Firestorm erupts over requiring women to sign up for military draft} (go back ↩)
- ^ {Firestorm erupts over requiring women to sign up for military draft} (go back ↩)
