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Should women be required to register for military draft? Some lawmakers say yes

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If the U.S. went to war and turned to the military draft to enlist more soldiers, should women be required to serve? That is the question lawmakers debate on Capitol Hill as they build the military budget for 2025.

Right now, selective service laws require men between the ages of 18 and 25 to register for a potential draft. Women do not have to register for selective service, but the 2025 budget could change that.

The Senate and House both developed versions of the military budget. The House passed its version of the bill on Tuesday, June 18. The Senate’s version includes a provision that would require women to enroll in the mandatory registration process, however, senators have not held a vote yet.

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Many Republican lawmakers are against the proposal, but universal selective service is not a new idea. Democrats, including the chair of the Armed Services Committee, have attempted to pass the provision for several years.

“If we were in a situation requiring a draft, I think we would need all able-bodied citizens 18 and above,” Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., said. “It’s not like World War II where we need a lot of infantry. We need cyber experts, we need intelligence analysts, linguists, etc. Wait a second, there are a lot of women out there that can do this better than men.”

While several lawmakers, including Reed, spoke in favor of the provision, others shared strong opinions against women enrolling in selective service. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., told Fox News that he thinks of the bill’s impact on his daughter.

“One day, if she wants to volunteer for the armed forces, that is terrific,” Hawley said. “But the idea that she would be drafted against her will is insane, and I bet every father in America feels the same way.”

The Senate’s version of the defense package, which includes this controversial position, passed through committee in a 22-3 vote. However, some of the senators who voted for the bill face pushback on the campaign trail.

Nevada Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen voted to approve the budget and is in a close race with Republican candidate Sam Brown, an Army veteran who was severely burned by an explosive in Afghanistan. He pushed back against Rosen and the provision in a post on X.

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[KARAH RUCKER]

IF THE U.S. WERE TO GO TO WAR AND TURN TO THE MILITARY DRAFT –

SHOULD WOMEN BE REQUIRED TO SERVE?

RIGHT NOW –

IT’S MANDATORY FOR MEN AGES 18-25 TO REGISTER FOR WHAT’S CALLED “SELECTIVE SERVICE” –

WHICH JUST MEANS IF THERE IS A DRAFT – THEY COULD BE CALLED UP TO JOIN THE MILITARY.

THE DEBATE HAPPENING IN CONGRESS NOW –

IS WHETHER **WOMEN SHOULD BE HELD TO THE SAME STANDARD?

FIRST –

WHY IS THIS CONVERSATION EVEN happening?

CONGRESS IS LOOKING AT ITS ANNUAL MILITARY BUDGET FOR 2025.

THE HOUSE PASSED A VERSION THIS WEEK.

THE SENATE IS CURRENTLY LOOKING AT ITS OWN VERSION.

AND EVENTUALLY THE TWO CHAMBERS WILL HAVE TO COMPROMISE.

THE **SENATE’S VERSION OF THE ANNUAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION –

HAS A PROVISION TO **INCLUDE WOMEN IN THE MANDATORY REGISTRATION PROCESS – THAT IN THE CASE OF WAR – 

THE U.S. WOULD CALL NAMES FROM.

THERE’S BEEN QUITE A BIT OF STRONG REACTION FROM REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS AGAINST THE PROPOSAL – ALTHOUGH ONE PROMINENT REPUBLICAN HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN IN FAVOR OF IT.

THIS ISN’T A NEW IDEA.

SOME DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET THIS PASSED FOR YEARS –

INCLUDING THE CHAIR OF THE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE.

SENATOR JACK REED SAYS –

“IF WE WERE IN A SITUATIONS REQUIRING A DRAFT, I THINK WE WOULD NEED ALL ABLE-BODIED CITIZENS 18 AND ABOVE.”

“IT’S NOT LIKE WORLD WAR II WHERE WE NEED A LOT OF INFANTRY. WE NEED CYBER EXPERTS, WE NEED INTELLIGENCE ANALYSTS, LINGUISTS, ETC. WAIT A SECOND, THERE ARE A LOT OF WOMEN OUT THERE THAT CAN DO THIS BETTER THAN MEN.”

WHILE  REPUBLICAN  SENATE MINORITY LEADER MITCH MCCONNELL HASN’T MADE COMMENTS ABOUT THE RECENT PROPOSAL –

HE SOUNDED OFF ON THE IDEA BACK IN 2016.

TELLING THE NEW YORK TIMES – “I PERSONALLY THINK IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR [WOMEN] TO REGISTER JUST LIKE MEN DO.” ADDING WOMEN ARE “PERFORMING VIRTUALLY ALL KINDS OF FUNCTIONS IN THE MILITARY.”

WHILE THERE ARE THOSE LAWMAKERS FOR IT – 

THERE ARE ALSO THOSE AGAINST.

LIKE SENATOR JOSH HAWLEY.

INTERVIEWED BY FOX NEWS THIS WEEK ON THE ISSUE.

[JOSH HAWLEY]

“This is insane stuff, i’ve got a 3 year old daughter. One day,if she wants to volunteer for the armed forces, that is terrific. But the idea that she would be drafted against her will is insane and i bet every father in america feels the same way.”

[KARAH RUCKER]

THE SENATE’S VERSION OF THE DEFENSE PACKAGE – INCLUDING THIS CONTROVERSIAL PROVISION – PASSED THE SENATE COMMITTEE WITH A 22 TO 3 VOTE.

BUT SENATORS WHO ALREADY VOTED **FOR IT –

ARE BEING MET ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL WITH OPPOSITION FROM THOSE VYING FOR THEIR POSITIONS IN NOVEMBER.

THAT INCLUDES A HOT CONTEST IN NEVADA FOR A SENATE SEAT.

DEMOCRAT JACKY ROSEN VOTED TO APPROVE THE BUDGET.

AND REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE SAM BROWN – AN ARMY VETERAN WHO WAS SEVERELY BURNED BY AN EXPLOSIVE DURING A TOUR IN AFGHANISTAN–

TOOK TO X TO BLAST HIS OPPONENT OVER THE PROPOSAL.

[SAM BROWN]

“Look at my face. This is the high cost of war. And i just learned this week jacky rosen voted this week  to make signing up for the draft mandatory for our daughters.” 

“This is unacceptable. Our daughters will not be forced into a draft.

[KARAH RUCKER]

LAST YEAR IT TOOK 5 MONTHS TO FINALLY APPROVE THE DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BILL. LAWMAKERS ARE FACING PRESSURE TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT QUICKLY. 

THAT’S BECAUSE WITH AN ELECTION LOOMING THIS NOVEMBER – CONTROL OF CONGRESS COULD DETERMINE THE FATE OF MILITARY SPENDING FOR YEARS TO COME. 

I’M KARAH RUCKER.

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