“Draft Our Daughters” Defense Bill

From Heritage Action, June 14, 2016

VOTE DESCRIPTION

The Senate voted on S. 2943, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017. The Heritage Foundation has articulated numerous problems with the bill reported out of committee, including the inclusion of a provision in the base bill that forces young women between the ages of 18 and 26 to sign up for the Selective Service, making them eligible for conscription if Congress reinstates the draft for future military needs.

HERITAGE ACTION POSITION

According to former Marine Corps servicewoman Jude Eden, “Combat is not an equal opportunity for women because they don’t have an equal opportunity to survive.” If women’s increased risk of injury makes them more vulnerable when engaging the enemy, why would Congress ever want to require women to be registered for the Selective Service, and ultimately the draft? Women can and do contribute significantly to the overall mission of the military. But military personnel policy, particularly when it comes to combat, should be determined based on military objectives and preparedness, not President Obama’s social agenda. Regardless of whatever merits the bill may have, it deserves to be defeated because lawmakers should not force young women into military services through the Selective Service.

Read … How They Voted