“You’ve come a long way, baby” — but not far enough, according to Democrats in the U.S. Congress.
Senate Republicans were angered by the Democrats’ proposed amendment to the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) last week that would require women 18-25 years of age be automatically enrolled in the Selective Service System (commonly known as “the draft”).
The NDAA passed by the GOP-controlled House of Representatives required that all 18-25-year-old males be automatically enrolled in the Selective Service System, but Senate Republicans pushed back at the Democrats’ proposal to do the same with women.
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) called the idea “insane.” He added, “They [women] shouldn’t be forced to serve if they don’t want to," overlooking the fact that men could be required to serve “if they don’t want to.” (In 2021 a divided Supreme Court found male-only conscription to be constitutional.)
Hawley led two successful efforts, in 2021 and 2022, to defeat similar amendments, so he will likely lead the attempt again, along with Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, to strip the language from the bill.
It may be too soon to tell if the amendment survives, but it’s time to prepare for conscripting women in a time of war or national emergency.
In 2013, all combat roles were opened up to women. Now, two of the uniformed services, the Navy and the Coast Guard, are commanded by women. Women also command the U.S. Southern Command and the U.S. Transportation Command, both four-star general positions.
In 2022, the National........