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Hawley leads colleagues in opposing potential provision forcing women to register for draft

WASHINGTON — Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) led colleagues in opposing any potential language in the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would require American women to register for the Selective Service System. Senators Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), and Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) joined in opposition.

“For the third time in four years, Democrats are attempting to force women into the draft. Let’s be clear: American women have a proud legacy of service in our Armed Forces, especially so because their service has always been voluntary. Never in our history have women been forced to register for the draft. Yet the Biden administration and Senate Democrats want to discard this longstanding tradition and force women to fight in wars against their own will,” the Senators wrote in a letter to Senator Jack Reed (D-R.I.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Representative Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), chairman of the House Armed Services committee.

The senators continued, “President Trump ran in part on a platform of avoiding World War III and ending the progressive policies infecting our military. The American people gave him a resounding electoral mandate. The Senate should prioritize America’s national security instead of turning defense legislation into a tool of liberal social policy.”

For years, Senator Hawley has successfully led the fight to stop the left from forcing women to register for the draft.

Read the full letter here or below.

December 5, 2024

The Honorable Jack Reed                          The Honorable Mike Rogers
Chairman                                                     Chairman
Senate Committee on Armed Services       House Committee on Armed Services
United States Senate                                  United States House of Representatives
728 Hart Senate Office Building                  2469 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20510                               Washington, DC 20515

 
Dear Chairman Reed and Chairman Rogers,

We write in strong opposition to the provision in the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) forcing American women to register for the Selective Service System (SSS).

For the third time in four years, Democrats are attempting to force women into the draft. Let’s be clear: American women have a proud legacy of service in our Armed Forces, especially so because their service has always been voluntary. Never in our history have women been forced to register for the draft. Yet the Biden administration and Senate Democrats want to discard this longstanding tradition and force women to fight in wars against their own will.

America’s daughters, sisters, wives, and mothers can decide to join the military themselves. President Trump ran in part on a platform of avoiding World War III and ending the progressive policies infecting our military. The American people gave him a resounding electoral mandate. The Senate should prioritize America’s national security instead of turning defense legislation into a tool of liberal social policy.

As the FY25 NDAA process continues, we strongly urge you to remove the provision in the Senate-version of the NDAA compelling women to register for SSS. Americans rejected social progressivism in 2024, and NDAA conferees should take this lesson to heart.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.         

Sincerely,

Josh Hawley                                                
United States Senator        

Tom Cotton
United States Senator

Ted Cruz
United States Senator                                            

Steve Daines
United States Senator

James Lankford                                                       
United States Senator                                                        

Mike Lee
United States Senator

Roger Marshall, M.D.                                                         
United States Senator                               

Eric Schmitt
United States Senator

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