Lawmakers push for end to military draft registration
WASHINGTON (AP) - Two lawmakers are waging a little-noticed campaign to abolish the Selective Service System, the independent federal agency that manages draft registration.
They say the millions of dollars the agency spends each year preparing for the possibility of a military draft is a waste of money.
Reps. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., and Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Colo., say the Pentagon has no interest in returning to conscription due to the success of the all-volunteer force.
The Selective Service has a budget of $24 million and a full-time staff of 130. It maintains a database of about 17 million potential male draftees. In the event of a draft, the agency would mobilize as many as 11,000 volunteers to serve on local draft boards that would decide if exemptions or deferments to military service were warranted.
The Selective Service is an "inexpensive insurance policy," said Lawrence Romo, the agency's director. "We are the true backup for the true emergency."
Men between the ages of 18 and 25 are required to register and can do so online or by mail. Those who fail to register with the Selective Service can be charged with a felony. The Justice Department hasn't prosecuted anyone for that offense since 1986.
There can be other consequences, though. Failing to register can mean the loss of financial aid for college, being refused employment with the federal government, and denied U.S. citizenship.
DeFazio says it makes no sense to threaten to penalize men who don't register when the odds of a draft are so remote.
Attempts to get rid of the agency have failed, DeFazio says, because too many of his colleagues on Capitol Hill worry that closing Selective Service down will make them look weak on national security.
"There is no one who wants this except 'chicken hawk' members of Congress," DeFazio says, using a term to describe a person who pushes for the use of military power but never served in the armed forces.
They say the millions of dollars the agency spends each year preparing for the possibility of a military draft is a waste of money.
Reps. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., and Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Colo., say the Pentagon has no interest in returning to conscription due to the success of the all-volunteer force.
The Selective Service has a budget of $24 million and a full-time staff of 130. It maintains a database of about 17 million potential male draftees. In the event of a draft, the agency would mobilize as many as 11,000 volunteers to serve on local draft boards that would decide if exemptions or deferments to military service were warranted.
The Selective Service is an "inexpensive insurance policy," said Lawrence Romo, the agency's director. "We are the true backup for the true emergency."
Men between the ages of 18 and 25 are required to register and can do so online or by mail. Those who fail to register with the Selective Service can be charged with a felony. The Justice Department hasn't prosecuted anyone for that offense since 1986.
There can be other consequences, though. Failing to register can mean the loss of financial aid for college, being refused employment with the federal government, and denied U.S. citizenship.
DeFazio says it makes no sense to threaten to penalize men who don't register when the odds of a draft are so remote.
Attempts to get rid of the agency have failed, DeFazio says, because too many of his colleagues on Capitol Hill worry that closing Selective Service down will make them look weak on national security.
"There is no one who wants this except 'chicken hawk' members of Congress," DeFazio says, using a term to describe a person who pushes for the use of military power but never served in the armed forces.
It's a fine idea. Just have the legislation link Selective Service registration with Social Security eligibility. No registration, no eligibility. The SCOTUS has already ruled on any potential issue in Fleming v. Nestor.
By ending the Selective Service lower middle class and poor Americans, disproportionately minorities, will defend America in it's time of need. They should keep the draft registration and reinstate the draft for both men and women. Everyone should take responsibility for defending America. I served in the 1960's while others dodged the draft helped by wealthy parents with expensive lawyers. Mitt Romney is the perfect example of a privileged draft dodger. This nation is full of weak irresponsible males. Send them all to boot camp, let the services do what they must, away from prying public eyes and make them into strong men.
If it`s about the money, just tell Michelle "Bigfoot" obama to take two less vacations this year, and that should more than make up for it.
"...[N]or shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law."
What gives the government the right to take the lives of American citizens without their consent?
@Julian This is one of the many ways that the Constitution becomes perverted into a suicide pact. How often is the Preamble cited as authority (e.g. "promote the general welfare") to spend ourselves into an oblivion of debt? Why is it when the clause "provide for the common defense" is cited, we are lectured that the Preamble is not positive law. Here is the most uncomfortable question: How many people residing in the USA who were born here can rely on their ancestry, wealth and/or education to obtain citizenship elsewhere and leave behind those without such privileges responsible? When it comes to survival, all nations are the same from the tyrannies that define Cuba and North Korea to the likes of the USA.
Obama never regesistered
24 million dollars per year to preserve an antiquated system that has been lying dormantly unenforced since the 1980's?
It is time to do away with it. There are enough truly good Americans that do step up in the times of need these days.
We need to get away from the cost if we are not going to use the system.
Restarting it just would not take that much effort.
I'm wondering if either of these two clowns ever served in the service? After finishing my 6th tour in Afghanistan some of my pilots were woman they all did very good work!
Nope. Sorry. And let's not forget the ladies need to register now too.