[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 21 (Thursday, February 10, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E197]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM

                                  _____
                                 

                           HON. MIKE COFFMAN

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 10, 2011

  Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, on a warm summer morning in 
1972 I stood outside of the Military Entrance Processing Station in 
downtown Denver. I was a volunteer for military service, but many of 
those around me were conscripts--draftees as they were commonly called. 
As the line moved slowly forward I listened as many of them rehearsed 
what they would say once they got inside to convince the Army why they 
were unfit for military service.
  The conscript Army that I joined in 1972 suffered from a fundamental 
lack of discipline and low morale. By 1976 conscription had ended and 
the last of the draftees had completed their military obligation--the 
U.S. Army was now an all volunteer force. Every year since then the 
Army has improved in the quality of its personnel, training, and 
professionalism. Today, it is a much smaller force but an 
extraordinarily elite one.
  In late 1979, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan and in 1980 
President Jimmy Carter sought to demonstrate the resolve of the United 
States against the Soviet incursion. President Carter asked the 
Congress to reinstate the Selective Service System. Congress did so, 
and to this day all males are required by law to register with the 
Selective Service System within 30 days of their 18th birthday.
  However, conscription has not been requested by our military as a 
viable option during the first Gulf War, the Iraq War, or for 
Afghanistan--despite periodic shortages of military personnel. And 
while many draft age males have failed to meet registration 
requirements, no one has been prosecuted for failure to comply with 
this law since 1986. We have a requirement on the books that isn't used 
and clearly doesn't merit enforcement.
  The Select Service System was never meant to be permanent. Now, 31 
years and over $700 million later, and with Congress never having given 
serious consideration to establishing a conscripted force, it is 
finally time to end the registration requirement and dismantle the 
Selective Service System.
  Today I introduce legislation to do just this. The bill will allow 
the President, if needed, to reinstitute national registration by 
executive order. Until then, my bill will end registration. It will do 
so without negatively affecting our defense capabilities and will save 
the taxpayers over $24 million annually. It also releases military 
personnel currently working within the Selective Service System to more 
pressing duties on national security, and removes an obviously moribund 
and outdated program that was never more than a symbolic gesture.

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