The Independent View: Senate Defense Budget Bill Requires Women To Register For Draft

A Senate Panel’s Newly Approved Defense Budget includes a Provision Requiring Women to Register for the Draft.

Changes to the Draft, Officially known as the Selective Service System, were made Official in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the Annual Military Budget Bill, which the Senate Armed Services Committee announced it had Approved, Thursday.

The NDAA “amends the Military Selective Service Act to require the registration of women for Selective Service,” a Summary of the Bill reads.

The .U.S Military has Not instituted a Draft since the Vietnam War, and Pentagon Officials have repeatedly said they intend to keep U.S. Armed Forces All-Volunteer. Now Men and Woman, between the ages of 18 and 25 will be Legally Required to be Registered with the Selective Service System. Penalties for Not doing so include Losing Access to Federal Financial Aid Programs for Higher Education. The New Language strikes Explicit references to Men, changing the Requirement to “All Americans.”

The Change was Originally Proposed by Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman, Jack Reed (D-RI), but Congress has been Debating the Issue since 2016.

The National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service, said in early 2020, that it would Recommend Women be Required to Register.

Congress has Passed the NDAA annually for the last 60 years. The Senate Armed Services Panel Approved a $778 Billion Budget Agreement, this week, that includes a $25 Billion Boost to the Pentagon’s Coffers.

The newly Approved Budget sets up a Showdown among the Senate side, President Biden, and House Democrats, with the latter Two supporting a Pared-Down Number.

The $778 Billion Price Tag includes about $28 Billion for a Energy Department National Security Programs, and $10 Billion on Defense Activities at other Agencies, leaving $740.3 Billion for the Defense Department.

That number marks a $25 Billion Increase from the $753 Billion requested by Biden, who is Unlikely to respond warmly to Raising the Military Budget even more.

Left-wing Pols have largely been pushing for a 10% Cut, something extremely unlikely to Pass the House or Senate.

Passing this Budget will Require the House and Senate to come together and agree on Final Text. That Process will likely take Months of Negotiations between Committee and Party Leadership, and be One of the Final Items to Pass this year.