taken on legislation
since February 2003
Bills would require young
adults to serve the nation
No action has been
taken on legislation
since February 2003
BY ANNIKA MENGISEN
Correspondent
A pair of bills which are currently awaiting action in Washington, D.C., have raised the concern of one local resident.
S. 89 and H.R. 163, which await action before the committee on armed services, state that their purpose is "to provide for the common defense by requiring that all young persons in the United States, including women, perform a period of military service or a period of civilian service in furtherance of the national defense and homeland security, and for other purposes."
The twin bills, titled the Universal National Service Act of 2003, would require U.S. citizens and permanent residents ages 18-26 to serve for a two-year period in active or reserve areas of the armed forces or in a civilian capacity that promotes national defense, according to information posted on the Internet Web site www.congress.gov. The legislation would include women, and college students would only be able to postpone service until the end of their current semester.
H.R. 163 was sponsored by Congressman Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) and S. 89 was sponsored by Sen. Ernest Hollings (D-S.C.).
"Mr. Rangel introduced the bill for purposes of fairness and equity in sharing of the burden and sacrifice of this or any war," said Emile Milne, press secretary and legislative director for Rangel.
Ilene Zeldin, press secretary for Hollings, said, "Sen. Hollings believes a draft would be good to build the character of Americans."
The two pieces of legislation were introduced in January 2003. They have not been brought to committee and there has been no action on them since February 2003.
Milne said no action has been taken or scheduled on H.R. 163.
"Mr. Rangel has made it plain he is not pushing this bill," said Milne.
Milne said a decision to pass H.R. 163 would be made by the president in order to meet the needs of the military.
Zeldin said the two bills are basically collecting dust.
According to the Internet Web site www.sss.gov, officials at the Pentagon have begun a campaign to fill all 10,350 draft board positions and 11,070 appeals board slots nationwide and $28 million has been added to the Selective Service System budget.
Milne said this action has nothing to do with reinstating the draft and is not responding to a particular call. The Selective Service Agency has to remain prepared to manage a draft and this update is routine and nothing new, he said.
The proposed legislation and the updates to the Selective Service System are concerns for Marlboro resident Rhonda Uretzky, the mother of two children.
"This is perhaps one of the most important decisions our legislators will be making this year, quite literally a matter of life and death," she wrote in a letter to the editor of Greater Media Newspapers. "The person who is drafted will not have the choice of the kind of service they will have to do. I find that very disturbing."
Uretzky said she does not believe there has been enough coverage of the two bills and said citizens should be more aware of them.
"I’m hoping that people will go to these Web sites and educate themselves about what these bills are saying and voice their opinions to their congress people," she said.
At the present time, all males between the ages of 18 and 25 are required to register with Selective Service, although there is no draft for military service.