[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 23483-23485]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                             TOPICAL AGENDA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. NEIL ABERCROMBIE

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 8, 2004

  Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, great interest has been generated by 
the publication of a document from the 11th of February 2003 entitled 
``Topical Agenda''. It involves the Department of Defense Personnel and 
Readiness Undersecretary and the Selective Service System and its 
Acting Director.
  This document appears on the web site of ``Rock the Vote''. The 
interest is intense because of the content of the agenda. It involves a 
review of selective service major policy issues since 1973; a synopsis 
of Department of Defense Policy regarding the draft and a detailed 
proposal for the renewal of the draft and conditions attendant to it.
  The participation of the Department of Defense in the discussion 
associated with the agenda has been confirmed by the Secretary of 
Defense. The DOD contention is that the meeting on the agenda was for 
purposes of discussion only and that it took place off Pentagon 
premises. Obviously, the location of the discussion and the origination 
of the agenda for discussion purposes is immaterial to the issue at 
hand. The point is the Department of Defense from the Secretary on down 
has vigorously denied that any such discussions have ever taken place 
let alone been contemplated. This document shows that a detailed 
proposal for a new draft involving men and for the first time women has 
been under consideration and discussion by the Department of Defense. 
It also clearly indicates that consideration has been given to drafting 
not only for military needs but for purposes associated with the 
Department of Homeland Security. In addition it proposes that the draft 
age be extended from 18 to 34. It includes a proposition that a ``self-
declaration'' of skill sets be required of all potential draftees to be 
periodically updated until the age of 35.
  It is not enough for the Department of Defense to say it rejects the 
proposal and its findings. Saying ``no'' doesn't make it so. Denials 
that any such consideration has even been given let alone presently 
extent ring hollow in the wake of the implications of this agenda and 
the Department of Defense's participation in discussing it.
  Given the broad and deep concern of the public about the draft and 
the possibility of its being reinstituted it is imperative that the 
public be enabled to see, understand and analyze what the Department of 
Defense has had under consideration. The public, of course, can draw 
its own conclusions. The ``Agenda'' report follows.

                             Topical Agenda

       DoD Participants: Hon. Charles S. Abell, Principal Deputy 
     Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness; Mr. 
     William Carr, Acting Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for 
     Military Personnel Policy; Colonel David Kopanski, Deputy 
     Director, Accession Policy.
       SSS Participants: Mr. Lewis C. Brodsky. Acting Director of 
     Selective Service; Mr. Richard S. Ftahavan, Director of 
     Public & Congressional Affairs.

[[Page 23484]]



          1. Review 30-year time-line--SSS major policy issues

       A. Draft ends in 1973; Agency placed in ``Deep Standby'' 
     from 1976 to 1980. Ninety-eight ``record-keepers'' remain to 
     SSS, part-time Reserve Officers kept on board, but no 
     registration, no Board Members.
       B. 1980--Cold War continues. President Carter decides to 
     revitalize SSS after Soviets invade Afghanistan and MOBEXs 
     indicate need. No draft, but resumes registration program for 
     men. Wants to include women but Congress says no. 10,000 
     Board Members appointed and trained. DoD sets preparedness 
     goal for SSS: ``Be ready to provide first draftees to MEPS at 
     M+13 and 100,000 by M+30.''
       C. 1988--Congress reacts to military medical shortages 
     (``war stoppers''). Language inserted in the Defense 
     Authorization Act telling SSS to develop a ``structure'' 
     which would allow the registration and induction of health 
     care personnel in an emergency. DoD identifies more than 60 
     health care specialities to include in the SSS Health Care, 
     Personnel Delivery System (HCPDS). Planning calls for first 
     HCPDS draftees by M+42. HCPDS becomes a paper and computer 
     exercise lasting many years.
       D. 1989-1991--End of Cold War, Desert Storm, no draft, and 
     SSS remains in standby status with flat-lined annual budgets.
       E. 1893 and 1994--Detractors in the Congress challenge need 
     for continuing to fund SSS and peacetime registration. 
     Section 647(b), FY 1993 DOD Authorization Act requires 
     SECDEF, in concert with SSS, to report on continuation of 
     peacetime registration. This was accomplished, registration 
     is retained, and an interagency task force review was formed, 
     led by the NSC. Conclusion is announced by President Clinton: 
     preserve SSS and peacetime registration in current standby 
     status for three reasons.
       1. A hedge against underestimating the number of soldiers, 
     needed to fight a future war;
       2. A symbol of national resolve to potential adversaries; 
     and,
       3. A link between the all-volunteer Armed Forces and 
     society-at-large.
       Clinton also instructs SSS to increase operational 
     efficiency. Instructs DoD to update MOB requirements for SSS, 
     re-examine timelines, and review arguments for and against 
     continuing to exclude women from registration.
       F. 1994--Defense issues new ``post-Cold War'' guidance to 
     SSS: ``provide first untrained draftee to MEPS at M+193; 
     first Health Care draftee at M+222,'' DoD reaffirms that it 
     is not necessary to register or draft women (for a 
     conventional draft of untrained manpower) because they are 
     prohibited by policy from serving in ground combat 
     assignments. SSS recognizes women may have to be included in 
     a health care draft.
       G. 1998--DoD Health Affairs says health care personnel 
     would be needed earlier than M+222 in a future conflict. 
     Guidance changed to M+90. Today, HCPDS can be implemented, 
     but ability to meet M+90 time frame is doubtful. Program not 
     fully tested and compliance aspects still not complete.
       H. 1995 through 2000--Anti-SSS Members of Congress almost 
     successful in eliminating SSS through the appropriations 
     process. SSS undergoes structure and program reductions to 
     make ends meet. Readiness suffers.
       I. 2000 and 2001--DoD and SSS plan and implement joint 
     mailing project to increase peacetime relevancy of SSS and 
     improve timeliness and address accuracy of DoD recruiting 
     direct mail campaigns.
       J. 2002 and 2003--Administration says use of draft not an 
     option for war on terrorism or potential war with Iraq. Rep. 
     Rangel and Sen. Hollings introduce bills (H.R. 163 and S. 69) 
     call for reinstituting a draft for military and national 
     service. SECDEF adamant and vocal against using the draft for 
     any immediate or likely contingency. Most recently, Reps. 
     Paul, DeFazio and Frank introduce H.R. 487, calling for 
     repeal of the Military Selective Service Act and an end to 
     the SSS within six months of the bill becoming law.
       Synopsis: With known shortages of military personnel with 
     certain critical skills, and with the need for the nation to 
     be capable of responding to domestic emergencies as a part of 
     Homeland Security planning, changes should be made in the 
     Selective Service System's registration program and primary 
     mission.
       Situation: Currently, and in accordance with the Military 
     Selective Service Act (MSSA) [50 U.S.C., App. 451 et seq.), 
     the Selective Service System (SSS) collects and maintains 
     personal information from all U.S. male citizens and resident 
     aliens. Under this process, each man is required to ``present 
     himself for and submit to registration'' upon reaching age 
     18. The methods by which a man can register with Selective 
     Service include the Internet, mail-back postcard, checking a 
     box on other government forms, and through the driver's 
     license applications process in many states. The collected 
     data is retained in an active computer file until the man 
     reaches age 26 and is no longer draft eligible. It consists 
     of the man's name, address, Social Security number, and date 
     of birth. Currently, 91 percent of all men, ages 18 through 
     25, are registered, enabling the SSS to conduct a timely, 
     fair, and equitable draft in the event the Congress and the 
     President decide to reinstate conscription during a crisis.
       However, the Secretary of Defense and Department of Defense 
     manpower officials have stated recently that a draft will not 
     be necessary for any foreseeable crisis. They assume that 
     sufficient fighting capability exists in today's ``all-
     volunteer'' active and reserve Armed Forces for likely 
     contingencies, making a conventional draft of untrained 
     manpower somewhat obsolete. Yet, Defense manpower officials 
     concede there are critical shortages of military personnel 
     with certain skills, such as medical personnel, linguists, 
     computer network engineers, etc. The costs of attracting and 
     retaining such personnel for military service could be 
     prohibitive, leading some officials to conclude that while a 
     conventional draft may never be needed, a draft of men and 
     women possessing these critical skills may be warranted in a 
     future crisis, if too few volunteer.
       Proposal: In line with today's needs, the SSS' structure, 
     programs and activities should be re-engineered toward 
     maintaining a national inventory of American men and (for the 
     first time) women, ages 18 through 34, with an added focus on 
     identifying individuals with critical skills.
       An interagency task force should examine the feasibility of 
     this proposal which would require amendments to the MSSA, 
     expansion of the current registration program, and inclusion 
     of women. In addition to the basic identifying information 
     collected in the current program, the expanded and revised 
     program would require all registrants to indicate whether 
     they have been trained in, possess, and professionally 
     practice, one or more skills critical to national security or 
     community health and safety. This could take the form of an 
     initial ``self-declaration'' as a part of the registration 
     process. Men and women would enter on the SSS registration 
     form a multi-digit number representing their specific 
     critical skill (e.g., similar to military occupationa1 
     specialty or Armed Forces Specialty Code with Skill 
     Identifier), taken from a lengthy list of skills to be 
     compiled and published by the Departments of Defense and 
     Homeland Security. Individuals proficient in more than one 
     critical skill would list the practiced skill in which they 
     have the greatest degree of experience and competency. They 
     would also be required to update reported information as 
     necessary until they reach age 35. This unique data base 
     would provide the military (and national, state, and 
     municipal government agencies) with immediately available 
     links to vital human resources . . . in effect, a single, 
     most accurate and complete, national inventory of young 
     Americans with special skills.
       While the data base's ``worst-case'' use might be to draft 
     such personnel into military or homeland security assignments 
     during a national mobilization, its very practical peacetime 
     use could be to support recruiting and direct marketing 
     campaigns aimed at encouraging skilled personnel to volunteer 
     for community or military service opportunities, and to 
     consider applying for hard-to-fill public sector jobs. Local 
     government agencies could also tap this data base to locate 
     nearby specialists for help with domestic crises and 
     emergency situations.
       With the changes described above, SSS programs would be 
     modified to serve the contemporary needs of several 
     customers: Department of Defense; Department of Homeland 
     Security (FEMA. U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Customs, INS). 
     Corporation for National Service, Public Health Service, and 
     other federal and state agencies seeking personnel with 
     critical skills for national security or community service 
     assignments. The SSS would thus play a more vital, relevant, 
     and immediate role in shoring up America's strength and 
     readiness in peace and war.

        II. Are today's SSS capabilities in sync with DoD needs?

       A. Is there a need to preserve the capability of conducting 
     a draft of untrained manpower? If so, is the time frame still 
     M+193?
       B. How likely is it that DoD will need SSS to conduct a 
     Health Care draft?
       C. How severe are any other critical skills shortages in 
     the military?
       D. Are the Clinton-era's abstract reasons for preserving 
     the SSS and peacetime registration still valid?
       E. Would DoD still fight any and all Congressional 
     initiatives to cut or eliminate the SSS?

 III. Consider restructuring the SSS to address contemporary national 
                             security needs

       A. Focus might be on relieving critical skills shortages
       B. Include potential service to DHS and other government 
     agencies that must attract/recruit skilled personnel.
       C. Explore the feasibility of developing a single-point 
     data base of virtually all young Americans, 18 through 34 
     years old, immediately identifiable by critical skills 
     possessed and practiced. Data base could be used for a draft 
     in war and for recruiting in peacetime.
       1. Would require modification of SSS mission and changes to 
     authorizing law.
       2. Cost considerations.

       IV. Next steps--Statement of Administration Policy needed

       A. DoD decides what services it needs and wants from SSS: 
     Three options for consideration:

[[Page 23485]]


       1. SSS status quo; however, redefine the DoD mission 
     guidance and time lines to make the SSS more relevant to 
     DoD's needs and the SECDEF's policy. The current guidance of 
     providing untrained inductees at M+193 runs counter to the 
     SECDEF's views and is out-of-sync with possible wartime 
     scenarios.
       2. Return the SSS to ``Deep Standby'' status. If a draft of 
     any kind is highly unlikely and undesirable, eliminate 
     peacetime registration and dismiss the 10,000 trained 
     volunteer Board Members. However, should a draft be needed, 
     it would take more than a year to get the system capable of 
     conducting a fair and equitable draft from Deep Standby 
     status.
       3. Restructure the SSS and shift its peacetime focus to 
     accommodate DoD's most likely requirements in a crisis. Plan 
     for conducting a more likely draft of individuals with 
     special and critical skills.
       a. Minimum requirement: SSS mission guidance and time lines 
     must be redefined promptly by DoD to allow more relevant pre-
     mobilization planning and funding for the possibility of a 
     critical skills draft at M+90 of sooner. Peacetime 
     registration of men 18 through 25 would continue, but 
     consideration would also be given to identifying men with 
     certain critical skills among these year-of-birth groupings. 
     A post-mobilization plan would also be devised and computer 
     programming accomplished for a full-blown critical skills 
     draft. The HCPDS program is completed, brought to the 
     forefront of SSS readiness planning, and tested through 
     exercises. Without a reaffirmation of relevance and 
     adjustment of mission, the SSS will be an easy target for 
     reduction or elimination by detractors in the Congress and 
     the Administration.
       b. Expanded pre-mobilization requirement: SSS peacetime 
     registration expanded to include women and men, 18 through 34 
     years old, and collects information on critical skills within 
     these year-of-birth groupings. Requires change of law and 
     additional funding (see Issue Paper dated 11 Feb 2003).
       B. If more examination of the issue and options is needed, 
     consider forming an interagency task force to provide the 
     Administration with a policy recommendation. Possible 
     players: DoD, SSS, DHS, NSC, OMB, Corporation for National 
     Service, PHS, others.
       C. After suitable analysis, obtain a White House Statement 
     of Administration Policy (SAP) announcing plans for the 
     future of the SSS (course of action l, 2, or 3, above).
       D. If the SSS is to expand its pre-mobilization activities 
     to include registration of women and collection of critical 
     skills identifiers, it will be necessary to market the 
     concept for approval by the Armed Services Committees and 
     Appropriations Committee draft implementing legislation for 
     congressional consideration. The changes will be implemented 
     after the amended law is signed and funding is identified.

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