Policy

Mixed Reaction to Women in the Draft

Senate, House proposals stir debate on role of women in the military

Reaction has been mixed for making women subject to the draft. (DOUGLAS GRAHAM/ CONGRESSIONAL QUARTERLY)
Reaction has been mixed for making women subject to the draft. (DOUGLAS GRAHAM/ CONGRESSIONAL QUARTERLY)
By Eric Garcia
Posted May 13, 2016 at 6:57pm

A new proposal cleared by the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday that would make women subject  to a military draft has drawn mixed reactions.  

The Senate plan matches a similar proposal narrowly approved by the House Armed Services Committee last month, setting the stage for a floor debate about the role of women in the military.  

After the announcement, Lauren Augustine, a legislative advocate for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, praised the effort.  

“The fight for equality of opportunity and treatment must also include equality in obligation,” Augustine said in a statement. “As we move towards a formalized role for women in combat arms, this is a necessary progression.”  

But the reaction was not all positive. Jude Eden, an Iraq War veteran, criticized the measure.

Similarly, when a similar bill was brought up in the House Armed Services Committee in April, the right-leaning Center for Military Readiness, criticized the measure, saying  “Drafting unsuspecting girls-next-door in a future national emergency would create a political crisis and a paralyzing administrative overload that would weaken our armed forces at the worst possible time.”  

The House version of the bill alarmed a few Twitter users. 

Meanwhile, others like conservative commentator Daniel Horowitz criticized Arizona Sen. John McCain for backing the provision.

Contact Garcia at EricGarcia@cqrollcall.com and follow him on Twitter @EricMGarcia.