Washington,
D.C. (May 22, 2001) - The Selective Service System
today announced its second annual report to the nation
showing an overall 4-percent increase in state-by-state
registration compliance rates for men born in 1981
who registered through calendar year 2000. This report
followed several years of declining rates.
The
Selective Service Progress Report showed that 87 percent
of men turning 20 in calendar year 2000 who registered
with Selective Service is up from last year's 83 percent
of men born in 1980 who were registered in 1999. Numbers
were up in almost every state, with some achieving
an increase of as much as 8 percent.
"We
are extremely excited because the registration compliance
rate increase indicates that more young men are ensuring
their futures by complying with the law and staying
eligible for important benefits on the federal, state
and local levels," said Selective Service Director
of Public Affairs Lew Brodsky. "But we still have
much work to do," he said. "Compliance is still too
low in our inner cities and our southern border states,
meaning that young men there risk losing out on a
college education, good jobs, job training, and for
immigrants, their chance to become U.S. citizens."
Federal
law requires that virtually all young men living in
the U.S. register with Selective Service within 30
days of their 18th birthday. The American people,
through their local, state and federal elected representatives,
have made Selective Service registration a requirement
for securing a number of opportunities, including
federal student loans, job training, government jobs,
and U.S. citizenship for male immigrants. Twenty-nine
states and 71 municipalities have similar laws tying
education, training or employment opportunities for
young men to Selective Service registration. Additionally,
some states are making registration a requirement
for men seeking driver's licenses. Failure to register
is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison
and a fine of up to $250,000.
"Our
research shows that the biggest barrier to young men's
compliance is simple lack of awareness," Brodsky said.
"It is tragic to see young men potentially missing
out on future opportunities because they just don't
know that they are required to register. But even
more tragic is that our experience shows the young
men most likely to miss the message are the very men
who may stand the most to gain from these opportunities."
Brodsky
cautioned that more needs to be done to reach out
to all young men. "We are challenged. More than 5,000
new young men turn 18 every day. We need extra assistance
in reaching those men who are failing to register.
I think this can be accomplished best through the
assistance of the community-based partner organizations
we have gathered here today."
Community-based
partners offering their assistance to Selective Service
include: Greater Washington Urban League, League of
United Latin American Citizens, National Congress
of American Indians, National Council of La Raza and
Organization of Chinese Americans (representing Pan-Asian
cultures).
"While
we are encouraged by the increase in registration
compliance, we realize that we have more work to do
in informing young men of their requirement to register
with Selective Service, and helping them fulfill their
potential," Brodsky said. "We will be greatly assisted
in our efforts by these partners who share the same
dedication to empowering and inspiring our nation's
youth."
"The
partners that have gathered here today represent the
beginning of what we intend to be a growing outreach
effort over the next several years," Brodsky said.
"With the support of these individuals and organizations,
with our plans to increase our outreach into other
communities, and with continuing efforts on the state,
local, and national levels, we will ensure that all
young men are aware of their responsibilities and
benefit from all of the opportunities due them."
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Video
News Release via Satellite Feed:
A video news release will be available via satellite
on May 22, 2001, from 2:30 to 3:00 p.m., EDT, on C-Band,
Telstar 5, Transponder 23, Downlink: 4160 MHz(V),
Audio is 6.2 and 6.8.
Questions: Contact Keira Rodriguez, (212) 736-2727,
ext. 214.
News
Graphic and Photos:
A camera-ready news graphic (B&W; and color) can be
downloaded on May 22, 2001, after 10:30 a.m., EDT,
at http://www.sss.gov/y2kstats.htm.
National
news event photos can be downloaded on May 22, 2001,
after 2:00 p.m., EDT, at http://www.sss.gov/y2kstatphotos.htm.
SELECTIVE
SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG MEN
CONSEQUENCES
FOR NOT REGISTERING
The maximum penalty for failing to register with Selective
Service is a $250,000 fine and up to five years in
prison. Failure to register will cause ineligibility
for a number of federal and state benefits including:
FEDERAL
JOBS
A man must be registered to be eligible for jobs in
the Executive Branch of the Federal government and
the U.S. Postal Service. This applies only to men
born after December 31, 1959.
STUDENT
FINANCIAL AID
Men who are not registered with Selective Service
cannot obtain Federal student loans or grants. This
includes Pell Grants, College Work Study, Guaranteed
Student/Plus Loans, and National Direct Student Loans.
CITIZENSHIP
The U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)
makes registration with Selective Service a condition
for U.S. citizenship, if the man first arrived in
the U.S. before his 26th birthday and was required
to register.
FEDERAL
JOB TRAINING
The Workforce Investment Act (formerly JTPA) offers
important job-training opportunities. This program
is only open to those men who register with Selective
Service.
STATE
JOBS, LOANS, AND TRAINING
Most states have added additional penalties for those
who fail to register with Selective Service.
STATE DRIVER'S LICENSE LEGISLATION
As of May 21, 2001, seven states enacted driver's
license laws supporting Selective Service registration:
Arkansas, Oklahoma, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Alabama
and Utah. These laws require registration with Selective
Service in order to obtain a driver's license. The
following states have bills passed: Colorado, Florida
and Illinois. Others have draft bills: California,
Louisiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, North Carolina,
Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and
Wisconsin.
