FCNL: Military Draft Bill to Be Vote on Tonight (10/5)

[Guest guest]

News Flash: Military Draft Bill to Be Voted on Tonight (10/5)

 

In a surprise election year legislative maneuver, the House Republican

leadership is expediting consideration of a bill to resume the military draft

(HR 163). Apparently seeking both to quell widespread rumors that the

Republicans may soon resume the draft and to shift this political hot potato to

the Democrats, the Republican leadership has decided to put the issue to a vote

under a " suspension of rules " whereby a bill is brought to the floor without

committee hearings or a markup. There will be a 40-minute debate; no amendments

will be allowed; and then the vote will be taken. The leadership expects the

bill to be soundly defeated. Even Rep. Rangel (NY), who originally introduced

the bill in early 2003, says he will vote against it.

 

Rep. Rangel (NY) and 13 other Democrats introduced the bill prior to the war in

Iraq. Rangel believes the all-voluntary military is an unjust form of military

conscription that draws primarily from the economically disadvantaged. He also

believes the U.S. would be more cautious about going to war if everyone’s son or

daughter had an equal likelihood of being called upon to fight.

 

We at FCNL believe the military draft is not the way to bring about the end of

the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Instead, we call upon Congress to redirect the

tremendous human and material resources now devoted to war and preparing for war

to address the root causes of violence, to build cooperative, international

institutions to peacefully prevent deadly conflicts, and to advance human

security in all its dimensions.

 

For more information, please see the background information on FCNL’s web site

at http://www.fcnl.org/issues/item.php?item_id=1090 & issue_id=37, or contact the

Center on Conscience and War at http://www.nisbco.org/

 

 

 

The Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) Young-Friends list

provides updates on future events and discussion on topics such as peace and

civil liberties.

 

 

 

____________________________

 

Join FCNL’s Build Democracy Vote Campaign:

 

http://www.fcnl.org/elections_2004.htm

 

 

 

Contact Congress and the Administration:

 

http://capwiz.com/fconl/dbq/officials/

 

 

 

Order FCNL publications and “War is Not the Answer” and Vote campaign bumper

stickers, buttons, and yard signs:

 

http://www.fcnl.org/newinfo/special_pub.htm

 

http://www.fcnl.org/elections/materials.htm

 

http://www.fcnl.org/iraq-war.htm

 

 

 

Un to this list: Send a message with the word “” to

young-friends-request. Or send an email to jennifer with your

request.

 

 

 

Subscribe to other FCNL legislative, policy, and action alert lists:

 

http://www.fcnl.org/listserv/quaker_issues.php

 

 

 

______________________

 

Friends Committee on National Legislation

 

245 Second St. NE, Washington, DC 20002-5795

 

fcnl * www.fcnl.org

 

phone: (202)547-6000 * toll-free: (800)630-1330

 

 

 

We seek a world free of war and the threat of war

 

We seek a society with equity and justice for all

 

We seek a community where every person's potential may be fulfilled

 

We seek an earth restored.

 

 

 

 

 

http://pets.care2.com/

 

" The price of apathy towards public affairs is to be ruled by evil men. " --

Plato

" Providing health care to all Iraqis is sound policy. Providing

health care to all Americans is socialism. " -- anon