Sens. Cruz, Hawley, Colleagues Introduce Amendment to Remove NDAA Provision that Forces Women to Register for Military Draft
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), and Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) introduced an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would remove a provision forcing women to register for the military draft if the U.S. government were to initiate a draft in the future.
Upon cosponsoring the amendment, Sen. Cruz said:
“America’s military is a volunteer force made up of service members who decided for themselves to take the oath. My daughters know that they’re capable of achieving anything they set their minds to, but the idea that our government would force women into service through the draft to fight our nation’s wars is immoral and outrageous.”
Sen. Hawley said:
“It is wrong to force our daughters, mothers, wives, and sisters to fight our wars. Our country is extremely grateful for the brave women who have volunteered to serve our country with and alongside our fighting forces. They have played a vital role in defending America at every point in our nation’s history. But volunteering for military service is not the same as being forced into it, and no woman should be compelled to do so.”
Sen. Cotton said:
“Our military has welcomed women for decades and is stronger for it. But America’s daughters should never be drafted against their will.”
Sen. Hyde-Smith said:
“I have great admiration for the women who serve in our Armed Forces, and every opportunity to serve should be available to women. I do not, however, see any compelling reason to expand the Selective Service System.”
Sen. Wicker added:
“I applaud the women who volunteer to serve in the military and who sacrifice every day for our country’s freedom, but to compel their service by law is wrong. I along with millions of other Americans cannot support the idea that our daughters and granddaughters would be forced to fight in our next military conflict against their will.”
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