[KARAH RUCKER]

IF THE U.S. WERE TO GO TO WAR AND TURN TO THE MILITARY DRAFT –

SHOULD WOMEN BE REQUIRED TO SERVE?

RIGHT NOW –

IT’S MANDATORY FOR MEN AGES 18-25 TO REGISTER FOR WHAT’S CALLED “SELECTIVE SERVICE” –

WHICH JUST MEANS IF THERE IS A DRAFT – THEY COULD BE CALLED UP TO JOIN THE MILITARY.

THE DEBATE HAPPENING IN CONGRESS NOW –

IS WHETHER **WOMEN SHOULD BE HELD TO THE SAME STANDARD?

FIRST –

WHY IS THIS CONVERSATION EVEN happening?

CONGRESS IS LOOKING AT ITS ANNUAL MILITARY BUDGET FOR 2025.

THE HOUSE PASSED A VERSION THIS WEEK.

THE SENATE IS CURRENTLY LOOKING AT ITS OWN VERSION.

AND EVENTUALLY THE TWO CHAMBERS WILL HAVE TO COMPROMISE.

THE **SENATE’S VERSION OF THE ANNUAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION –

HAS A PROVISION TO **INCLUDE WOMEN IN THE MANDATORY REGISTRATION PROCESS – THAT IN THE CASE OF WAR – 

THE U.S. WOULD CALL NAMES FROM.

THERE’S BEEN QUITE A BIT OF STRONG REACTION FROM REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS AGAINST THE PROPOSAL – ALTHOUGH ONE PROMINENT REPUBLICAN HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN IN FAVOR OF IT.

THIS ISN’T A NEW IDEA.

SOME DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET THIS PASSED FOR YEARS –

INCLUDING THE CHAIR OF THE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE.

SENATOR JACK REED SAYS –

“IF WE WERE IN A SITUATIONS REQUIRING A DRAFT, I THINK WE WOULD NEED ALL ABLE-BODIED CITIZENS 18 AND ABOVE.”

“IT’S NOT LIKE WORLD WAR II WHERE WE NEED A LOT OF INFANTRY. WE NEED CYBER EXPERTS, WE NEED INTELLIGENCE ANALYSTS, LINGUISTS, ETC. WAIT A SECOND, THERE ARE A LOT OF WOMEN OUT THERE THAT CAN DO THIS BETTER THAN MEN.”

WHILE  REPUBLICAN  SENATE MINORITY LEADER MITCH MCCONNELL HASN’T MADE COMMENTS ABOUT THE RECENT PROPOSAL –

HE SOUNDED OFF ON THE IDEA BACK IN 2016.

TELLING THE NEW YORK TIMES – “I PERSONALLY THINK IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR [WOMEN] TO REGISTER JUST LIKE MEN DO.” ADDING WOMEN ARE “PERFORMING VIRTUALLY ALL KINDS OF FUNCTIONS IN THE MILITARY.”

WHILE THERE ARE THOSE LAWMAKERS FOR IT – 

THERE ARE ALSO THOSE AGAINST.

LIKE SENATOR JOSH HAWLEY.

INTERVIEWED BY FOX NEWS THIS WEEK ON THE ISSUE.

[JOSH HAWLEY]

“This is insane stuff, i’ve got a 3 year old daughter. One day,if she wants to volunteer for the armed forces, that is terrific. But the idea that she would be drafted against her will is insane and i bet every father in america feels the same way.”

[KARAH RUCKER]

THE SENATE’S VERSION OF THE DEFENSE PACKAGE – INCLUDING THIS CONTROVERSIAL PROVISION – PASSED THE SENATE COMMITTEE WITH A 22 TO 3 VOTE.

BUT SENATORS WHO ALREADY VOTED **FOR IT –

ARE BEING MET ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL WITH OPPOSITION FROM THOSE VYING FOR THEIR POSITIONS IN NOVEMBER.

THAT INCLUDES A HOT CONTEST IN NEVADA FOR A SENATE SEAT.

DEMOCRAT JACKY ROSEN VOTED TO APPROVE THE BUDGET.

AND REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE SAM BROWN – AN ARMY VETERAN WHO WAS SEVERELY BURNED BY AN EXPLOSIVE DURING A TOUR IN AFGHANISTAN–

TOOK TO X TO BLAST HIS OPPONENT OVER THE PROPOSAL.

[SAM BROWN]

“Look at my face. This is the high cost of war. And i just learned this week jacky rosen voted this week  to make signing up for the draft mandatory for our daughters.” 

“This is unacceptable. Our daughters will not be forced into a draft.

[KARAH RUCKER]

LAST YEAR IT TOOK 5 MONTHS TO FINALLY APPROVE THE DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BILL. LAWMAKERS ARE FACING PRESSURE TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT QUICKLY. 

THAT’S BECAUSE WITH AN ELECTION LOOMING THIS NOVEMBER – CONTROL OF CONGRESS COULD DETERMINE THE FATE OF MILITARY SPENDING FOR YEARS TO COME. 

I’M KARAH RUCKER.

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