(U-WIRE) - The U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly voted on Tuesday to defeat a bill calling for the restoration of the military draft.
By a 402-2 vote, the House shot down HR 163, otherwise known as the Universal National Service Act of 2003. The bill, introduced in January 2003 by Rep. Charles Rangel, (D-NY), would have required all U.S. citizens ages 18 to 25, including women, to serve two years of military or civilian service.
With rumors of a potential conscription swirling on the Internet during the past few weeks, House Republicans sought to quell speculation that President George W. Bush will reinstate the draft to bolster flagging forces in Iraq. The Bush administration has adamantly denied that any plan to reinstitute the draft is in the works.
Rep. James Sensenbrenner, (R-Wis)., hoped the lopsided vote convinces naysayers that Bush and Congress have no intention of making military service non-voluntary.
"Opponents of President Bush have tried for months now to spread fear among millions of college students and other young Americans by claiming that they may be drafted to serve in the Armed Forces," Sensenbrenner said in a statement. "Today's House vote will, I hope, put to rest this ill-founded rumor, and send the fear-mongers a message that their shameless and political tactics have failed."
After letting the legislation sit dormant for over a year, the House brought the bill to vote under suspended rules late Tuesday. The chamber debated the measure for 40 minutes before taking the vote.
Despite authoring the bill, Rangel voted against the legislation, saying the suspended rules debate did not give the issue the discussion it deserves. "There's been no hearing, no expert testimony, we haven't heard from the public," Rangel press secretary Emile Milne said. "[Suspended rules hearings] are supposed to be for non-controversial issues, like naming post offices."
Jerilyn Goodman, spokesperson for Rep. Tammy Baldwin, (D-Wis)., questioned the timing of the vote.
