Draft proposal introduced in Congress

July, 2005

On May 26, 2005, Representative Charles Rangel (D-NY) introduced the Universal National Service Act of 2005, H.R. 2723, in the U.S. House of Representatives. H.R. 2723 would require men and women between the ages of 18 and 26 to perform at least 15 months of active military or civilian service.

Rangel, who says he opposes the war in Iraq but supports the military and the men and women who serve it, has noted that only a handful of the 535 members of Congress have a relative in active military service. He believes members would be slower to authorize war if service was required of rich and poor, advantaged and disadvantaged, alike. A previous version of this bill by Rep. Rangel was defeated by a floor vote of 402-2 in the House, one month before national elections in 2004.

H.R. 2723 is part of an ongoing discussion in Congress and in Anabaptist congregations about military service and recruitment.

Unlike its predecessor from the previous session of Congress, H.R. 2723 was introduced with no cosponsors and is not likely to have a Senate counterpart any time soon. The bill, like any other draft proposal, would have to pass both House and Senate and be signed into law by the President to reinstate a draft.

Presently, the administration insists there is no need for a draft. Many believe that a decision for a draft would be socially and politically unpopular.

Yet members of Congress wonder if the present system of volunteer armed forces is enough to meet present and future military challenges that face the United States. They struggle with issues of sufficient troop levels and military recruitment as the impact of present conflicts strain the system.

Reservists are being used in a capacity greater than in any other war or conflict. They represent well over 40 percent of the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Soldiers are performing repeat tours of duty, going far beyond their expected terms. The Army has had successive months of recruitment shortfalls since February. Reports of recruitment scandals and fraud have been in the news earlier this year. Military media ads are part of the redoubled efforts to sway the hearts and minds of both parents and students.

"What is happening now indicates to me that the entire volunteer system is in danger of collapse under the weight of the burden being placed on those who are serving," stated Rep. Rangel.

Meanwhile, Anabaptist congregations are working to educate their members about the realities of military service and to promote peacemaking.

"We have seen a decrease in young people opting for the military," says Glen Guyton, a youth pastor at Calvary Community Church, a Mennonite congregation in Hampton, Va. The church is located in an area where there is a high concentration of military bases and activity. Pastor Guyton reports that as the church and youth programs strengthen and grow, "young people begin to see college as an option within affordable reach, and in turn, influence their peers toward that direction as well." The MCC Washington Office encourages Anabaptists to contact members of Congress about the draft, and will continue to monitor and report on policy changes that affect conscientious objection and draft issues. For further information, contact the MCC Washington Office at 110 Maryland Avenue NE, Suite 502, Washington, DC 20002-5626; (202) 544-6564 or by e-mail: .