News and Internet headlines went crazy Friday night (June 14) as the House of Representatives passed HR 8070, a new military bill that includes legislation to automatically draft men between the ages 18 – 26, beginning in 2025.
Now, for millennials who haven’t been paying attention to federal law for the past eight decades and Gen-Zers that don’t know any better, the U.S. government enforcing a draft isn’t new. A draft is officially referred to as the Selective Service System. The concept was initiated in 1940, before the United States’ entered World War II. Another was enacted again in 1942, then again in 1948. During the summer of 1980, the government required young men to register for the military, and have done so ever since. “Presently, young men must register within 30 days of their 18th birthday.”
So for everyone going in on the comments about a mandatory draft, relax. Why? Because the Senate has not voted on the on the potential new law yet, and no bill can be passed until both branches of Congress vote in favor of the law.
Here is what you need to know about HR 8070, also known as the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act.
HR 8070 is not a new bill. It’s an amendment to the already-in-place Military Selective Service Act. The proposed legislation will “automatically register all men, who are U.S. citizens (or are residing in the U.S.) and between the ages of 18 and 2[6], for the Selective Service,” says Justine Tripathi, a spokesperson for the House Armed Services Committee. Currently, she continues, “Failure to register for the Selective Service can impact employment and the ability to receive government assistance, but sometimes young men are unaware they need to register for the Selective Service until it’s too late. This provision would eliminate those future headaches.”
As it stands, the amended law reads, Except as otherwise provided in this title, every male citizen of the United States, and every other male person residing in the United States, between the ages of eighteen and twenty-six, shall be automatically registered under this Act by the Director of the Selective Service System…This section shall not apply to any alien lawfully admitted to the United States as a nonimmigrant under…the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101) for so long as he continues to maintain a lawful nonimmigrant status in the United States.
Talk about the ultimate call of duty. And it’s your duty to know the laws. So if nothing else, just remember, it takes a vote in favor of a bill by both the House and the Senate in order for it to become law.
