Not that this really applies to me (prior service) but I have a couple friends that cant seem to get enough of it. I think there is probably somewhere between zero and no chance of passing....but what do you all think? There are probably enough hippies in this country who will scream bloody murder when asked to defend their freedom of speach to keep this from going anywhere.



Universal National Service Act of 2003 (Introduced in House)

HR 163 IH


108th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 163
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.


IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 7, 2003
Mr. RANGEL (for himself, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Mr. STARK, and Mr. ABERCROMBIE) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services



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A BILL
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.


Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

(a) SHORT TITLE- This Act may be cited as the `Universal National Service Act of 2003'.

(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS- The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

Sec. 2. National service obligation.

Sec. 3. Two-year period of national service.

Sec. 4. Implementation by the President.

Sec. 5. Induction.

Sec. 6. Deferments and postponements.

Sec. 7. Induction exemptions.

Sec. 8. Conscientious objection.

Sec. 9. Discharge following national service.

Sec. 10. Registration of females under the Military Selective Service Act.

Sec. 11. Relation of Act to registration and induction authority of Military Selective Service Act.

Sec. 12. Definitions.

SEC. 2. NATIONAL SERVICE OBLIGATION.

(a) OBLIGATION FOR YOUNG PERSONS- It is the obligation of every citizen of the United States, and every other person residing in the United States, who is between the ages of 18 and 26 to perform a period of national service as prescribed in this Act unless exempted under the provisions of this Act.

(b) FORM OF NATIONAL SERVICE- National service under this Act shall be performed either--

(1) as a member of an active or reverse component of the uniformed services; or

(2) in a civilian capacity that, as determined by the President, promotes the national defense, including national or community service and homeland security.

(c) INDUCTION REQUIREMENTS- The President shall provide for the induction of persons covered by subsection (a) to perform national service under this Act.

(d) SELECTION FOR MILITARY SERVICE- Based upon the needs of the uniformed services, the President shall--

(1) determine the number of persons covered by subsection (a) whose service is to be performed as a member of an active or reverse component of the uniformed services; and

(2) select the individuals among those persons who are to be inducted for military service under this Act.

(e) CIVILIAN SERVICE- Persons covered by subsection (a) who are not selected for military service under subsection (d) shall perform their national service obligation under this Act in a civilian capacity pursuant to subsection (b)(2).

SEC. 3. TWO-YEAR PERIOD OF NATIONAL SERVICE.

(a) GENERAL RULE- Except as otherwise provided in this section, the period of national service performed by a person under this Act shall be two years.

(b) GROUNDS FOR EXTENSION- At the discretion of the President, the period of military service for a member of the uniformed services under this Act may be extended--

(1) with the consent of the member, for the purpose of furnishing hospitalization, medical, or surgical care for injury or illness incurred in line of duty; or

(2) for the purpose of requiring the member to compensate for any time lost to training for any cause.

(c) EARLY TERMINATION- The period of national service for a person under this Act shall be terminated before the end of such period under the following circumstances:

(1) The voluntary enlistment and active service of the person in an active or reverse component of the uniformed services for a period of at least two years, in which case the period of basic military training and education actually served by the person shall be counted toward the term of enlistment.

(2) The admission and service of the person as a cadet or midshipman at the United States Military Academy, the United States Naval Academy, the United States Air Force Academy, the Coast Guard Academy, or the United States Merchant Marine Academy.

(3) The enrollment and service of the person in an officer candidate program, if the person has signed an agreement to accept a Reserve commission in the appropriate service with an obligation to serve
on active duty if such a commission is offered upon completion of the program.


(4) Such other grounds as the President may establish.

SEC. 4. IMPLEMENTATION BY THE PRESIDENT.

(a) IN GENERAL- The President shall prescribe such regulations as are necessary to carry out this Act.

(b) MATTER TO BE COVERED BY REGULATIONS- Such regulations shall include specification of the following:

(1) The types of civilian service that may be performed for a person's national service obligation under this Act.

(2) Standards for satisfactory performance of civilian service and of penalties for failure to perform civilian service satisfactorily.

(3) The manner in which persons shall be selected for induction under this Act, including the manner in which those selected will be notified of such selection.

(4) All other administrative matters in connection with the induction of persons under this Act and the registration, examination, and classification of such persons.

(5) A means to determine questions or claims with respect to inclusion for, or exemption or deferment from induction under this Act, including questions of conscientious objection.

(6) Standards for compensation and benefits for persons performing their national service obligation under this Act through civilian service.

(7) Such other matters as the President determines necessary to carry out this Act.

(c) USE OF PRIOR ACT- To the extent determined appropriate by the President, the President may use for purposes of this Act the procedures provided in the Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. App. 451 et seq.), including procedures for registration, selection, and induction.

SEC. 5. INDUCTION.

(a) IN GENERAL- Every person subject to induction for national service under this Act, except those whose training is deferred or postponed in accordance with this Act, shall be called and inducted by the President for such service at the time and place specified by the President.

(b) AGE LIMITS- A person may be inducted under this Act only if the person has attained the age of 18 and has not attained the age of 26.

(c) VOLUNTARY INDUCTION- A person subject to induction under this Act may volunteer for induction at a time other than the time at which the person is otherwise called for induction.

(d) EXAMINATION; CLASSIFICATION- Every person subject to induction under this Act shall, before induction, be physically and mentally examined and shall be classified as to fitness to perform national service. The President may apply different classification standards for fitness for military service and fitness for civilian service.

SEC. 6. DEFERMENTS AND POSTPONEMENTS.

(a) HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS- A person who is pursuing a standard course of study, on a full-time basis, in a secondary school or similar institution of learning shall be entitled to have induction under this Act postponed until the person--

(1) obtains a high school diploma;

(2) ceases to pursue satisfactorily such course of study; or

(3) attains the age of 20.

(b) HARDSHIP AND DISABILITY- Deferments from national service under this Act may be made for--

(1) extreme hardship; or

(2) physical or mental disability.

(c) TRAINING CAPACITY- The President may postpone or suspend the induction of persons for military service under this Act as necessary to limit the number of persons receiving basic military training and education to the maximum number that can be adequately trained.

(d) TERMINATION- No deferment or postponement of induction under this Act shall continue after the cause of such deferment or postponement ceases.

SEC. 7. INDUCTION EXEMPTIONS.

(a) QUALIFICATIONS- No person may be inducted for military service under this Act unless the person is acceptable to the Secretary concerned for training and meets the same health and physical qualifications applicable under section 505 of title 10, United States Code, to persons seeking original enlistment in a regular component of the Armed Forces.

(b) OTHER MILITARY SERVICE- No person shall be liable for induction under this Act who--

(1) is serving, or has served honorably for at least six months, in any component of the uniformed services on active duty; or

(2) is or becomes a cadet or midshipman at the United States Military Academy, the United States Naval Academy, the United States Air Force Academy, the Coast Guard Academy, the United States
Merchant Marine Academy, a midshipman of a Navy accredited State maritime academy, a member of the Senior Reserve Officers' Training Corps, or the naval aviation college program, so long as that person satisfactorily continues in and completes two years training therein.


SEC. 8. CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION.

(a) CLAIMS AS CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR- Any person selected under this Act for induction into the uniformed services who claims, because of religious training and belief (as defined in section 6(j) of the Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. 456(j))), exemption from combatant training included as part of that military service and whose claim is sustained under such procedures as the President may prescribe, shall, when inducted, participate in military service that does not include any combatant training component.

(b) TRANSFER TO CIVILIAN SERVICE- Any such person whose claim is sustained may, at the discretion of the President, be transferred to a national service program for performance of such person's national service obligation under this Act.

SEC. 9. DISCHARGE FOLLOWING NATIONAL SERVICE.

(a) DISCHARGE- Upon completion or termination of the obligation to perform national service under this Act, a person shall be discharged from the uniformed services or from civilian service, as the case may be, and shall not be subject to any further service under this Act.

(b) COORDINATION WITH OTHER AUTHORITIES- Nothing in this section shall limit or prohibit the call to active service in the uniformed services of any person who is a member of a regular or reserve component of the uniformed services.

SEC. 10. REGISTRATION OF FEMALES UNDER THE MILITARY SELECTIVE SERVICE ACT.

(a) REGISTRATION REQUIRED- Section 3(a) of the Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. 453(a)) is amended--

(1) by striking `male' both places it appears;

(2) by inserting `or herself' after `himself'; and

(3) by striking `he' and inserting `the person'.

(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT- Section 16(a) of the Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. App. 466(a)) is amended by striking `men' and inserting `persons'.

SEC. 11. RELATION OF ACT TO REGISTRATION AND INDUCTION AUTHORITY OF MILITARY SELECTIVE SERVICE ACT.

(a) REGISTRATION- Section 4 of the Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. App. 454) is amended by inserting after subsection (g) the following new subsection:

`(h) This section does not apply with respect to the induction of persons into the Armed Forces pursuant to the Universal National Service Act of 2003.'.

(b) INDUCTION- Section 17(c) of the Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. App. 467(c)) is amended by striking `now or hereafter' and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting `inducted pursuant to the Universal National Service Act of 2003.'.

SEC. 12. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:

(1) The term `military service' means service performed as a member of an active or reverse component of the uniformed services.

(2) The term `Secretary concerned' means the Secretary of Defense with respect to the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, the Secretary of Homeland Security with respect to the Coast Guard, the Secretary of Commerce, with respect to matters concerning the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, with respect to matters concerning the Public Health Service.

(3) The term `United States', when used in a geographical sense, means the several States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Guam.

(4) The term `uniformed services' means the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and commissioned corps of the Public Health Service.

I think implementing the draft would be perceived as political suicide, so I don't see it happening.

Ethically, i have mixed feelings about it. Would be less uncomfortable if there was a non military goverment service alternative for the true COs. Still compulsery service is just that, compulsery. On the other hand, I was raised in a family where we were simply expected to do our part.

NY Rangel is pushing pretty hard for a new military draft bill. Funny, weren't the Dems the ones that wanted it eliminated?

That's the Democrat sponsored bill that proves George Bush will draft people when he wins election again.

It's a Trap!

Seriously, the reason Rangel & the Dems are pushing this is that he believes More's that the Army is made up of economically coerced 'po folk', and thinks that if the 'rich people' had to send their kids to war they would finally get their dream of an antiwar movement made up of more than smelly college kids who's only real belief is that they should be able to skip class & still get an 'A'....

Personally, I think universal service would be a good idea for the country, but it should be implemented in peacetime so people get used to it, not in the middle of a war as a tool to 'grow' an opposition movement....

This is a total fucking JOKE!  It is a ploy by the Left (Just take a LOOK at the sponsors!) to try to bring back the draft and pin it on Bush!

Do ANY of you out there in Internet Land think for one second that those same liberals would try this shit on a Democratic president?  Remember, these are some of the same asshats who burned their draft cards thirty five years ago and are peaceniks even now.  This is total BS.

As long as the Republicans continue to control congress, we are safe.  Once they regain power, they are really going to start some mischief, from this kind of craziness to taking away our guns.

For the time being...don't get your skivvies in a bunch.  It isn't going to happen.

I'm for it.  Upon graduation from highschool or reaching the age of 18 and not persueing a highschool diploma or GED two years of service for both genders. Handicapped other than mental deficient should be included in non combat environment positions.  Machinegun nest every two hundred yards on both borders and continous patrols of shoreline.

And yes, my children too.  I would go back in for two years myself if needed, bad back and all.  No deferment except for extreme circumstances.

Marine Corps officer, former enlisted, and Iraq vet here.  I'm all for 2 years mandatory military service, peace corps or job corps, etc.  Too many kids watching MTV, hanging out at starbucks, and getting goofy.  At least afterwards they'll have some real experience to talk about.

When asked GW needs to say, " The American people are not stupid and realize this is a ploy by the Dims to make me look bad. Its too bad Mr. Rangle isnt spending his time on better things than making legislation he knows I wont sign".

PWNED.

This guy needs economical coersion.

Conscripted toilet scrubbers and infantry...I might be able to see that...

Technical training for draftees?   NO WAY!   Too much time and money to invest on a single person to only have them for two years.

Besides...the latest military strategy requires that the US acts out of the Greater Moral Authority and having conscripted personnell seems too close to forced labor and detracts from that posture.

Service Guarentees Citizenship.  

Would you like to know more?






PS- Political suicide for whoever pushes the manditory service bill.

I agree that this is a ploy by the left. The quality of the recruits would go down, and we would end up with a bunch of unmotivated people who do not want to be there. It would make it harder for people who want to be in to get the jobs that they want. Besides, it would be expensive training all of those people only to have them leave in two years!

Its a BS bill that is there to scare us.. I am young but no plans for the service. I wouldn't have a problem being a LEO for I can shoot your guys dogs and raid your homes but my life is already in place and not a time for me to screw it up.

Quoted: No it's not, the democrats have made great hay out of it's very existance, the very people who are mot against the military are the sponsors of it, and they are the ones talking it up, and getting votes over it, because there are to many people willing to look at teh text and not bother finding out who sponsored it, or what it's status is. .

They must be desperate.

Hmmmm. So if I read this correctly, such a draft could also be used to get more cops, EMS personnel and firefighters to serve here at home in their communities?

As R. Lee Ermey said in Seige of Firebase Gloria.........."well mister, you've just damn well been drafted". LOL. I became a volunteer firefighter while still a senior in high school back in 1995, so I've already been serving  in that capacity for over 9 years. While I think such community service would actually be a great thing, I can't imagine how things down at the station would run if half the members were people forced there against their will. I'd much rather have the group of volunteers we have (even if we are kinda thin at times) who are dedicated to being there and fight to be the first one into the fire trucks when the call comes in. I think most military people would feel the same way about their job as well.

Back in the old days, the draft wasn't such a bad thing. Everyone was use to it and the young men growing up was prepared for it. They knew they were gonna have to serve. But to restart it 30 years after it ended, when nobody is prepared for such, in the middle of a war, just seems rather stupid. Again, I mean no disrespect toward past draftees who served with distinction. But you guys aren't a part of this "me" generation. While you guys could be counted on, I just feel this new bunch would create a lot of ineffective soldiers. Leave the military to volunteers who want to be there! And if we have to use a draft, at least give the draftees non-combat jobs and use volunteers to man the infantry, arty, etc type MOS.

But I see this shit for what it really is. I remember before all of the cuts back in the early 90's, we had several more divisions than we do today. They were staffed by an all volunteer force. If volunteers could support an 18 division size force then, then we could bring the army back up to that level again today from the current 10 divisions. All you need to do is simply allow more people to enlist and work on retention. I can't think of any reason why we would need a force larger than 18 divisions looking at the current world situation and the capabilities of today's US military. If we need a bigger army, great, build it back up to previous levels. But we don't need a draft to do so. Just enlist more people who are willing to volunteer. We did it in the 70's, 80's and early 90's with no draft, so we can do it today. And we don't need no stinking draft to degrade the quality of our forces.

-CH

Aside from the very political reasons, and the fact that it's unneeded at this time, has anybody just simply considered the cost of such a plan?

Somehow the governement is going to employ millions more than it already does?  EVery man and woman 18-20 (or whatever) is alot of folks.  It doesn't matter if it's the military, the post office, fire department, or dog catcher, who gets to pay for it?  Yeah, you guessed it, the American taxpayer.

Would the unions of governement employees stand still while they get replaced for "draftees" to sort the mail, pick-up the trash, and do all the other jobs already being used as social welfare?

If you think it takes forever at DMV now, wait until you have conscripts working there.

If you think the mailman trashes your issue of Shotgun News now, think about how great your mail service is going to be with conscripted mail workers.

If you think it takes the police too long to respond, or that they have a JBT attitude, think about how great it will be with conscripts as cops.  "He violated my rights!"  Think he's going to care?  What are they going to do, draft him?

National service is unworkable in the USA unless we're willing to spend far more than we are spending now.  We're talking MILLIONS of people.  Training, pay, and the cost of the jobs themselves.  Far more extensive than the work relief programs of the great depression.  

So we only need a portion of those millions?  So who gets deferred?  We're back at it not being true national service then.

Universal conscription is unworkable.

Ross