[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 110 (Monday, September 18, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H7700-H7701]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING IMPORTANCE OF SELECTIVE SERVICE
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the
gentleman from California (Mr. Kuykendall) is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. KUYKENDALL. Mr. Speaker, for many of us about my age, when you
turned 18 you went off and registered for the draft. I happen to have
come of age during the Vietnam War, so it was very controversial. But
last Thursday, I introduced House Concurrent Resolution 402, which
recognizes the importance of the Selective Service System on the
occasion of its 60th anniversary of a peacetime military registration
effort.
It was first passed on September 16, 1940. I believe that willingness
and tradition of America's citizens to defend not only their homeland,
but also the very precept of freedom throughout the world, is the
cornerstone of what makes America the greatest Nation on Earth.
The Selective Service System serves as a reminder to many in the
world that America's young men stand ready to continue in the tradition
of protecting democracy. As a result of the Vietnam era draft, some
feel we should abolish it. Others feel we should not fund it during
times of peace. And with all due respect to those Members, I disagree
with them.
But the bill that I introduced is not anything to do with those two
controversial subjects. The bill seeks to honor America's Selective
Service System and recognize the historical role it played in America's
history, especially during the past 60 years.
But before that last 60 years, what was the history of the draft in
America? It began in the Civil War, and during that time, we
conscripted people, and the way you got out of it was you provided a
replacement. You had to go find someone to stand in your stead. It
ended after the Civil War.
Again, when America went to war in World War I, we passed the
Selective Service Act of 1917, and it provided for a general
conscription. We even had a clause in that one, for the first time,
that talked about exemptions for conscientious objectors. By the time
the war ended, we had inducted 2.8 million men.
Then, during World War II, we bring ourselves to the time that we end
up recognizing the anniversary of, that the Selective Training and
Service Act of 1940 established the first peacetime, I stress
peacetime, conscription; and it was in response to all the tension in
the world at that time. You could imagine, we had had Germany recently
invade Poland; the Japanese were on the march in the Pacific.
The service obligation was originally 12 months. It was quickly
changed to 18 months in 1941. By the end of that war, we had
conscripted over 10 million men, and the world had been made peaceful
again.
Following that, in 1948, we continued conscription; and we continued
registration, and we said anyone between the ages of 18 and 26 be
available for service as we then entered that era of the Cold War.
[[Page H7701]]
In 1948, we replaced the old draft with the Universal Military
Training and Service Act. A few years after that, we replaced it again
with the Reserve Forces Act of 1955. At that time you were required 6
years' service between your active and reserve time.
Then came Vietnam. In 1967, we passed the Military Selective Service
Act. That war had such controversy and had such venom throughout our
Nation that we ended up with the discontinuation of the draft in 1973.
Inductions were stopped, they were not renewed by Congress, and we
favored an all-voluntary military force. However, registration was
still required.
By 1975, we even suspended registration, so men who were only a few
years younger than myself found themselves in an era of not even having
to register. However, 5 short years later, Congress reinstated draft
registration requirements for men between the ages of 18 and 26.
Our modern Selective Service System that we have today must be
authorized by Congress to induct people and the President must order a
return to the draft. The system today is for registration. We merely
maintain the rolls. It is a lottery. It still would be used by drawing
your name out of a hat based on your date of birth, and young men would
be drafted with certain age groups.
Finally, local draft boards that are representative of the
demographics and ethnic makeup of your community are those who can
draft you. Many people, myself included, have served as a member of
these local draft boards. We have done so in a standby cadre status
because we do not draft anyone today.
Since Vietnam, we have been very fortunate concerning combat
casualties, especially given the deadly nature of weapons employed on
today's battlefields. However, should America find itself at war with a
capable and determined foe, casualty rates will likely increase
significantly and a mechanism that provides replacements in a timely
manner will be necessary. The Selective Service System is that
mechanism.
I urge all that have the opportunity to counsel America's young men,
to register with Selective Service. It is an important responsibility
of men between the age of 18 and 26.
The proponents of this amendment would have us believe that
maintaining a Selective Service System is a waste of taxpayer
resources. The cost of rebuilding the Selective Service System from
scratch, in both dollars and time, far outweigh the costs associated
with funding the current system.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to defeat this amendment. Rarely do
we have unanimous support from the administration, Joint Chiefs,
service secretaries, and veteran service organizations across the
country for a program. They all agree that we need the Selective
Service System should America ever require its capabilities. Vote no on
this amendment.
Mr. Speaker, House Concurrent Resolution 402 recognizes the 60th
anniversary of the Selective Service System and the critical role it
has played in protecting democracy. I urge its passage.
____________________