Democrats Tuck Female Draft Into Defense Bill

 The Pentagon will have to start drafting women in order to receive funding after House Democrats amended the defense budget.

Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D., Pa.) put forward a measure on Wednesday to require all women over the age of 18 to register for selective service. Houlahan said her policy would best draw on the "talents of our entire nation." Only one in three women, however, support adding women to the draft, according to an Ipsos poll. Republicans pilloried the legislation. Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R., Mo.), a House Armed Services Committee member, lampooned the prospect that millions of America’s daughters could be put needlessly in the line of fire. 

"I feel confident that in an emergency that the women of this country would step up and volunteer as needed," Hartzler said. "It seems like this is a solution in search of a problem. We don't need to draft women in order for women to have equality in this nation."

Female participation in the military has steadily increased since 2004, rising to 17 percent in 2018. A larger percentage of women in military service are commissioned as officers than men. Critics say conscription should focus on fielding the most effective fighting force, rather than gender ideology...MORE