Two members of Congress who served in the military introduced legislation on Thursday to require women to sign up for the draft.
Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., and a Marine Corps veteran, said he is introducing the Draft Our Daughters Act to begin a conversation the administration should have had before lifting the ban on women in combat.
“It’s unfortunate that a bill like this even needs to be introduced. And it’s legislation that I might very well vote against should it be considered during the annual defense authorization process,” Hunter said in a statement.
The bill would require women to register with the Selective Service within 90 days of either the passage of the bill or the lifting of the combat ban, which occurred late last year.
“It’s wrong and irresponsible to make wholesale changes to the way America fights its wars without the American people having a say on whether their daughters and sisters will be on the front lines of combat,” Hunter said in a statement. “If this administration wants to send 18- to 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.”
Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., and a former Navy SEAL, joined Hunter in introducing the bill.
“My daughter is a damn good Navy Diver. I know women play an invaluable role in war,” Zinke said in a statement. “However, this administration’s plan to force all front-line combat and Special Forces to integrate women into their units is reckless and dangerous.
“The natural conclusion of that policy is that this opens young women up to the draft,” he continued. “This is a very important issue that touches the heart of every family in America, and I believe we need to have an open and honest discussion about it.”
The top uniformed leaders of the Army and Marine Corps appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee this week and told lawmakers they believed women should sign up for the draft if they are allowed to serve in combat.
“It’s my personal view that based on this lifting of restrictions … that every American who’s physically qualified should register for the draft,” Marine Commandant Gen. Robert Neller said.
Following those remarks, the White House stressed that the generals were expressing their personal opinions, not the stance of the administration.
Hunter has been a vocal critic of the Pentagon’s evaluation of opening all combat positions to women, repeatedly calling for the resignation of Navy Secretary Ray Mabus over his recommendation that all positions in the Navy and Marine Corps be opened despite a Marine Corps request for exemptions.
Mabus appeared before Congress this week to defend this decision, saying he took data from all the services into account.
