#Socialites, get a load of this! The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a defense bill that will automatically register men aged 18 to 26 for the United States draft. Currently, the Selective Service (better known as the draft and not part of the Department of Defense/Armed Services) is mandatory for male U.S. citizens aged 18 to 25.
On Friday (June 14), the Republican-controlled House has now passed a measure mandating that men between the ages of 18 and 26 will be automatically registered for the U.S. military’s Selective Service System. Although the draft hasn’t been invoked in over half a century, it is currently mandatory for all male U.S. citizens to register for the Selective Service upon turning 18 years old. Failure to do so is considered a felony and many legal consequences will ensue.
The defense bill, which was led by Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-PA, arrives as part of the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which plans out the U.S. government’s military and national security priorities over the next fiscal year. According to Fox News, this year’s NDAA has already set out $895.2 billion in military spending, which proves to be a $9 billion increase from the 2024 fiscal year.
The NDAA passed the House in a 217 to 199 vote, however, it reportedly is unlikely to pass the Senate, where it’s headed to next before it would need the president’s signature to go into effect. Additionally, Fox News reports that the NDAA “also included the largest-ever military pay raise in history, with a 19.5% increase for junior enlisted troops and a 4.5% increase for others.”
It’s further reported that those in support of the new defense bill insist that it would eliminate excessive “bureaucratic red tape,” helping United States citizens avoid any unnecessary legal issues, in turn decreasing the total amount of taxpayer dollars being used to prosecute those cases.
During a debate last month, Congresswoman Houlahan said, “By using available federal databases, the [Selective Service] agency will be able to register all of the individuals required and thus help ensure that any future military draft is fair and equitable,” according to Defense News.
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On Friday afternoon, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY, fired back against the House-approved defense bill automatically registering men aged 18 to 26 for the United States draft. He namely opposed the measure over the inclusion of amendments that cut funding for abortion, transgender medical care, and other diversity measures.
Schumer said, “Unsurprisingly, the legislation coming out of the House today is loaded with anti-LGBTQ, anti-choice, anti-environment, and other divisive amendments guaranteed not to pass the Senate. As we move forward with this year’s NDAA process, both sides will have to work together to pass bipartisan legislation that honors and respects all who serve in defense of our nation.”
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