By Debbie Gregory.
Two Republican congressmen, who are both military veterans, have introduced a bill requiring women to register for the draft.
In spite of the fact that Reps. Duncan Hunter of California and Ryan Zinke of Montana are opponents of opening up combat roles to women, they introduced “Draft America’s Daughters Act of 2016,” which would require women to register for the draft.
Hunter, a former Marine, and Zinke, a former Navy SEAL, stated that the bill was a response to Defense Secretary Ashton Carter’s order that all billets in the military, including infantry and armor, be opened to women who qualify.
The bill would “amend the Military Selective Service Act to extend the registration and conscription requirements of the Selective Service System, currently applicable only to men between the ages of 18 and 26, to women between those ages to reflect the opening of combat arms Military Occupational Specialties to women,” according to copy of the text.
Both Hunter and Zinke are likely to vote against their own bill, but said the legislation is aimed at provoking a fuller discussion of Carter’s order.
In a statement, Hunter said, “It’s unfortunate that a bill like this even needs to be introduced.” He added, “If this administration wants to send 18-20 year old women into combat, to serve and fight on the front lines, then the American people deserve to have this discussion through their elected representatives.”
“I know women play an invaluable role in war. My daughter was a damn good Navy Diver,” Zinke said in a statement. “Many times women can gain access to strategic sites that men never could. However, this Administration’s plan to force all front-line combat positions and Special Forces to integrate women into their units is reckless and dangerous.”
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