Students may be surprised to learn that for the second time in recent history U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) has introduced legislation in the House that would require that all residents in the United States, ages 18-42, carry out national service and be available for conscription-more commonly referred to as the military draft.
H.R. 393, the Universal National Service Act of 2007, introduced in the House on January 20, 2007, follows a similar measure proposed in 2003 by the outspoken New York Democrat.
H.R. 163, the Universal National Service Act of 2003, defeated in 2004 by a vote of 2-to-402, also aimed to reinstate the military draft for all men and women ages 18-26 and specifically included a provision to disallow college enrollment as a valid basis for military deferment. The 2007 measure allows no deferments whatsoever after age 20.
In a quote to the New York Times, Rangel explained his position.
“If those calling for war knew that their children were likely to be required to serve-and to be placed in harm’s way-there would be more caution and a greater willingness to work with the international community in dealing with Iraq,” Rangel stated.
Rangel’s position echoes a similar stance held by documentary film-maker Michael Moore who, in 2004’s Fahrenheit 9/11, was clear to point out that out of 535 members of Congress only one had a child actively serving in Iraq.
Since 1973, the United States has relied on an all-volunteer force. However, the practice has been in use, historically, since at least the time of the American Civil War. More recent history has seen the United States institute the draft during World Wars I and II, as well as during the Korean and Vietnam conflicts.
“Although I agree that the intent is good the fact remains that corruption will always exist and I doubt that any of these congressmen’s’ children will ever see a battlefield,” said Martin Gonzalez, a sophomore at TAMIU.
Currently, all male U.S. citizens ages 18-26 are required to register with Selective Service or potentially face fines of up to $250,000 as well as up to five years in prison. Furthermore, failure to register also constitutes ineligibility for federal student aid, federal job training, and federal employment.
Passage of H.R. 393 remains, nonetheless, an almost insurmountable challenge due to a lack of widespread congressional support. Since H.R. 393, in effect, constitutes a motion to suspend to the rules currently in place-an all-volunteer military force-a two-thirds majority, in both houses, would be required in order for the measure to pass. Most observers agree that such high levels of congressional support are simply not in place and that passage of the bill is, therefore, highly unlikely.