GOP Blocks Bill Requiring Women to Register for Draft

 

 

The U.S. House of Representatives House Rules Committee, which is led by Republicans, has blocked a provision of the annual defense policy bill that would have required women ages 18 through 25 to register for a military draft.

 

FoxNews.com reports that last month the House Armed Services Committee voted 32-30 in favor of requiring women to register for the draft. Six Republicans voted for the measure, but most opposed it.

 

The decision to require women to register for the draft came after the Pentagon decided last year to allow women to serve in combat roles. This paved the way for gender restrictions to be broken down even further.

 

However, many legislators opposed the measure. 

 

"I have the utmost respect and deepest appreciation for the young women who bravely volunteer to serve our country, but I am adamantly opposed to coercing America's daughters to sign up for the Selective Service at 18 years of age," said Republican representative from Texas Pete Sessions.

 

Others believe requiring women to register for the draft is a measure of equality.

 

Democratic representative Adam Smith from Washington called the the House Rules Committee’s decision, "a dead-of-night attempt to take an important issue off the table."

 

Although the House Rules Committee has taken the provision requiring women to register for the draft out of the defense policy bill, the Senate has yet to vote on the measure.