Moxie

By Lauren Linhard – moxie.lauren@gmail.com

The Senate recently passed a defense bill that would require women to register for the draft when turning 18 in or after 2018.

The bill, called the National Defense Authorization Act, passed 85-13 and had bipartisan support, but was fiercely opposed by a few conservative lawmakers and interest groups.

“The idea that we should forcibly conscript young girls in combat to my mind makes little sense at all,” said Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), who voted against the bill along with five other republicans and seven democrats.

However, with the recent opening of all military combat positions to women this change was inevitable, said Senator John McCain (R-AZ), chairman of the Armed Services Committee.

“The fact is,” McCain said, “every single leader in this country, both men and women, members of the military leadership, believe that it’s fair since we opened up all aspects of the military to women that they would also be registering for Selective Services.”

The bill now has to be reconciled in a conference committee with a similar House bill, which doesn’t include the new draft regulations, before it can be sent to the president to be signed into law or vetoed.