U.S. HOUSE CONFIRMS MILITARY DRAFT
NOTHING MORE THAN A PARTISAN MYTH

 DEMOCRAT SPONSOR OF LEGISLATION TO
 REACTIVATE DRAFT DODGES HIS OWN BILL

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. House of Representatives Tuesday evening resoundingly put to rest the myth peddled by partisan political forces that a reinstatement of a military draft was under consideration.  The House overwhelmingly defeated the legislation authored by senior House Democrat Charles Rangel of New York by a vote of 402-2.

The proposed law would have provided “for the common defense by requiring that all young persons in the United States, including women, perform a period of military service or a period of civilian service in furtherance of the national defense and homeland security.”  In a surprise move the bill’s own sponsor, Charles Rangel, voted against the legislation furthering speculation that his legislation was nothing more than a political ploy to further coordinated misinformation about the existence of “secret plans” to reinstate the draft.

“That is the first time during my service in Congress that I have seen someone vote against his or her own legislation,” noted Iowa Fourth District Congressman Tom Latham who also voted against the measure.  “This should now put to rest the ridiculous talk of ‘secret’ draft plans.  In fact, it is becoming increasingly clear that the only active plan on the draft is the shameful plan being used by political forces to play on the fear of Americans in an election year.”

"The Bush Administration, the U.S. Department of Defense, and House and Senate leadership have all clearly stated that there are no plans for a military draft.  In fact, the only people who are on record for mentioning the possibility of, drafting legislation for, or actually voting for, a reinstatement of the draft are members of the Democratic party.”

To reactivate a draft, the U.S. House and Senate must pass legislation reauthorizing a reinstatement and the President must sign the reinstatement into law.  While the House has defeated Congressman Rangel’s call for a draft, the Senate could technically still consider similar legislation authored by Democrat Senator Ernest Hollings of South Carolina which he introduced in January of 2003.