Part II

Universal National Service Act of 2003 (Introduced in House)

HR 163 IH

108th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 163
To provide for the common defense by requiring that all young persons in the United States, including women, perform a period of military service or a period of civilian service in furtherance of the national defense and homeland security, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 7, 2003
Mr. RANGEL (for himself, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Mr. STARK, and Mr. ABERCROMBIE) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

A BILL
To provide for the common defense by requiring that all young persons in the United States, including women, perform a period of military service or a period of civilian service in furtherance of the national defense and homeland security, and for other purposes.


Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

(a) SHORT TITLE- This Act may be cited as the `Universal National Service Act of 2003'.

(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS- The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

Sec. 2. National service obligation.

Sec. 3. Two-year period of national service.

Sec. 4. Implementation by the President.

Sec. 5. Induction.

Sec. 6. Deferments and postponements.

Sec. 7. Induction exemptions.

Sec. 8. Conscientious objection.

Sec. 9. Discharge following national service.

Sec. 10. Registration of females under the Military Selective Service Act.

Sec. 11. Relation of Act to registration and induction authority of Military Selective Service Act.

SEC. 2. NATIONAL SERVICE OBLIGATION.

(a) OBLIGATION FOR YOUNG PERSONS- It is the obligation of every citizen of the United States, and every other person residing in the United States, who is between the ages of 18 and 26 to perform a period of national service as prescribed in this Act unless exempted under the provisions of this Act.

(b) FORM OF NATIONAL SERVICE- National service under this Act shall be performed either--

(1) as a member of an active or reverse component of the uniformed services; or

(2) in a civilian capacity that, as determined by the President, promotes the national defense, including national or community service and homeland security.

(c) INDUCTION REQUIREMENTS- The President shall provide for the induction of persons covered by subsection (a) to perform national service under this Act.

(d) SELECTION FOR MILITARY SERVICE- Based upon the needs of the uniformed services, the President shall--

(1) determine the number of persons covered by subsection (a) whose service is to be performed as a member of an active or reverse component of the uniformed services; and

(2) select the individuals among those persons who are to be inducted for military service under this Act.

(e) CIVILIAN SERVICE- Persons covered by subsection (a) who are not selected for military service under subsection (d) shall perform their national service obligation under this Act in a civilian capacity pursuant to subsection (b)(2).

SEC. 3. TWO-YEAR PERIOD OF NATIONAL SERVICE.

(a) GENERAL RULE- Except as otherwise provided in this section, the period of national service performed by a person under this Act shall be two years.

(b) GROUNDS FOR EXTENSION- At the discretion of the President, the period of military service for a member of the uniformed services under this Act may be extended--

(1) with the consent of the member, for the purpose of furnishing hospitalization, medical, or surgical care for injury or illness incurred in line of duty; or

(2) for the purpose of requiring the member to compensate for any time lost to training for any cause.

(c) EARLY TERMINATION- The period of national service for a person under this Act shall be terminated before the end of such period under the following circumstances:

(1) The voluntary enlistment and active service of the person in an active or reverse component of the uniformed services for a period of at least two years, in which case the period of basic military training and education actually served by the person shall be counted toward the term of enlistment.

(2) The admission and service of the person as a cadet or midshipman at the United States Military Academy, the United States Naval Academy, the United States Air Force Academy, the Coast Guard Academy, or the United States Merchant Marine Academy.

(3) The enrollment and service of the person in an officer candidate program, if the person has signed an agreement to accept a Reserve commission in the appropriate service with an obligation to serve
on active duty if such a commission is offered upon completion of the program.

(4) Such other grounds as the President may establish.

SEC. 4. IMPLEMENTATION BY THE PRESIDENT.

(a) IN GENERAL- The President shall prescribe such regulations as are necessary to carry out this Act.

(b) MATTER TO BE COVERED BY REGULATIONS- Such regulations shall include specification of the following:

(1) The types of civilian service that may be performed for a person's national service obligation under this Act.

(2) Standards for satisfactory performance of civilian service and of penalties for failure to perform civilian service satisfactorily.

(3) The manner in which persons shall be selected for induction under this Act, including the manner in which those selected will be notified of such selection.

(4) All other administrative matters in connection with the induction of persons under this Act and the registration, examination, and classification of such persons.

(5) A means to determine questions or claims with respect to inclusion for, or exemption or deferment from induction under this Act, including questions of conscientious objection.

(6) Standards for compensation and benefits for persons performing their national service obligation under this Act through civilian service.

(7) Such other matters as the President determines necessary to carry out this Act.

(c) USE OF PRIOR ACT- To the extent determined appropriate by the President, the President may use for purposes of this Act the procedures provided in the Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. App. 451 et seq.), including procedures for registration, selection, and induction.

SEC. 5. INDUCTION.

(a) IN GENERAL- Every person subject to induction for national service under this Act, except those whose training is deferred or postponed in accordance with this Act, shall be called and inducted by the President for such service at the time and place specified by the President.

(b) AGE LIMITS- A person may be inducted under this Act only if the person has attained the age of 18 and has not attained the age of 26.

(c) VOLUNTARY INDUCTION- A person subject to induction under this Act may volunteer for induction at a time other than the time at which the person is otherwise called for induction.

(d) EXAMINATION; CLASSIFICATION- Every person subject to induction under this Act shall, before induction, be physically and mentally examined and shall be classified as to fitness to perform national service. The President may apply different classification standards for fitness for military service and fitness for civilian service.

SEC. 6. DEFERMENTS AND POSTPONEMENTS.

(a) HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS- A person who is pursuing a standard course of study, on a full-time basis, in a secondary school or similar institution of learning shall be entitled to have induction under this Act postponed until the person--

(1) obtains a high school diploma;

(2) ceases to pursue satisfactorily such course of study; or

(3) attains the age of 20.

(b) HARDSHIP AND DISABILITY- Deferments from national service under this Act may be made for--

(1) extreme hardship; or

(2) physical or mental disability.

(c) TRAINING CAPACITY- The President may postpone or suspend the induction of persons for military service under this Act as necessary to limit the number of persons receiving basic military training and education to the maximum number that can be adequately trained.

(d) TERMINATION- No deferment or postponement of induction under this Act shall continue after the cause of such deferment or postponement ceases.

SEC. 7. INDUCTION EXEMPTIONS.

(a) QUALIFICATIONS- No person may be inducted for military service under this Act unless the person is acceptable to the Secretary concerned for training and meets the same health and physical qualifications applicable under section 505 of title 10, United States Code, to persons seeking original enlistment in a regular component of the Armed Forces.

(b) OTHER MILITARY SERVICE- No person shall be liable for induction under this Act who--

(1) is serving, or has served honorably for at least six months, in any component of the uniformed services on active duty; or

(2) is or becomes a cadet or midshipman at the United States Military Academy, the United States Naval Academy, the United States Air Force Academy, the Coast Guard Academy, the United States
Merchant Marine Academy, a midshipman of a Navy accredited State maritime academy, a member of the Senior Reserve Officers' Training Corps, or the naval aviation college program, so long as that person satisfactorily continues in and completes two years training therein.

SEC. 8. CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION.

(a) CLAIMS AS CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR- Any person selected under this Act for induction into the uniformed services who claims, because of religious training and belief (as defined in section 6(j) of the Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. 456(j))), exemption from combatant training included as part of that military service and whose claim is sustained under such procedures as the President may prescribe, shall, when inducted, participate in military service that does not include any combatant training component.

(b) TRANSFER TO CIVILIAN SERVICE- Any such person whose claim is sustained may, at the discretion of the President, be transferred to a national service program for performance of such person's national service obligation under this Act.

SEC. 9. DISCHARGE FOLLOWING NATIONAL SERVICE.

(a) DISCHARGE- Upon completion or termination of the obligation to perform national service under this Act, a person shall be discharged from the uniformed services or from civilian service, as the case may be, and shall not be subject to any further service under this Act.

(b) COORDINATION WITH OTHER AUTHORITIES- Nothing in this section shall limit or prohibit the call to active service in the uniformed services of any person who is a member of a regular or reserve component of the uniformed services.

SEC. 10. REGISTRATION OF FEMALES UNDER THE MILITARY SELECTIVE SERVICE ACT.

(a) REGISTRATION REQUIRED- Section 3(a) of the Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. 453(a)) is amended--

(1) by striking `male' both places it appears;

(2) by inserting `or herself' after `himself'; and

(3) by striking `he' and inserting `the person'.

(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT- Section 16(a) of the Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. App. 466(a)) is amended by striking `men' and inserting `persons'.

SEC. 11. RELATION OF ACT TO REGISTRATION AND INDUCTION AUTHORITY OF MILITARY SELECTIVE SERVICE ACT.

(a) REGISTRATION- Section 4 of the Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. App. 454) is amended by inserting after subsection (g) the following new subsection:

`(h) This section does not apply with respect to the induction of persons into the Armed Forces pursuant to the Universal National Service Act of 2003.'.

(b) INDUCTION- Section 17(c) of the Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. App. 467(c)) is amended by striking `now or hereafter' and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting `inducted pursuant to the Universal National Service Act of 2003.'.

Maybe we could sacrifice Bush?

Who was it round here who wanted sexual equality

I have two words for this:

Twin Towers

Were you there when they fell down? Did you see the horror on children's faces as they realized their parents might be dead? Did you see the smoke rising from Manhattan? I did. I have to look at the skyline everyday of my life and be reminded that they are gone.
Military force is important to have to protect us from having them come onto our land again. Therefore we need a strong military, even if it means putting women in combat.
What's wrong with that? Before you answer let me remind you that my sister is a Disabled Vietnam Veteran and one of the first female MP's.
I am one of those 'fucking morons' who will re-elect Bush because I am scared of Kerry. You want to talk military records? Three words 'Swift Boat Veterans'.
Kerry was a purple heart chaser. Check it out.
Yes I feel we should fight anyone who threatens our security. I don't agree 100% with how Bush went about it. But Tajiri you need to remember that sometimes when you write your liberal things on this website you are stepping on other peoples toes. People who come from military backgrounds. People who were on a military base just this summer to see how serious the situation really was. People who have watched her family members defend this country with their lives and are proud of it, whether they were drafted or volunteered.
So back off!
Let the flames begin.

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Stardust

A villain must be a thing of power, handled with delicacy and grace. He must be wicked enough to excite our aversion, strong enough to arouse our fear, human enough to awaken some transient gleam of sympathy. - Agnes Repplier

You know....

I've been seesawing back and forth with who I wanted to vote for. But, thing is, with all the half truths and twisting of the facts, I am having a hard time deciding. I'm more democrat at heart in philosophy and such, and I despise Bush the way he's handled this war, our citizens, and how he's manipulated religion shamelessly for a political agenda and...well, the list goes on and on. Kerry...just as bad.

The draft? I'm gonna look further into it....I've heard about this before.

Hey, I do have a great site to share for anyone looking for a more equal and unbiased look at the crap slinging around from our two presidential hopefuls.


http://www.spinsanity.com/


As the site says:

"Spinsanity was founded in April 2001 by Ben Fritz, Bryan Keefer, and Brendan Nyhan, three recent college graduates who were distressed at the growing dominance of spin in American politics and determined to do something about it. The trio started Spinsanity as a nonpartisan watchdog dedicated to unspinning misleading claims from politicians, pundits and the press."

Check it out!

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"Spider sense....tingling."

As long as you all keep this topic under this thread and understand that not everyone may agree with you either politely or viciously, then please keep up your discussion in the time ol'tradition of Gatch.

My personal view is under the circumstances Bush did what any other American president would have done under the circumstances and if you can't see that, then your pretty naive.

What do I think to all the Bush slagging off like Farenhiet 9-11? I think its just people jumping on the band wagon to make a name for themselves.

Personally I didn't like Bush when he came into power more because his original agenda was very anti-foreign policy and more pro-America, however in light of 9-11 he had to drastically change that stance.

As for the war in Iraq? We should have done it over 10 years ago when we had the chance and the political climate was right.

Why is Iraq in such a mess now? Well I can hardly blame America for that, afterall a large number of the problems are being caused by Iraqi's and other Arabs.

Do you really think if America withdrew it would all settle down? Like hell.

And at the end of the day what you have to realise is that a lot of the resentment and hatred is stired up and propogandered by those who are trying to take over or make a play for their own power and glory, like for instance Al-Sadr who I gaurantee would be the first one to attack the new Iraqi government and set up is own self styled Taliban if the coalition forces left.

Plus you have to understand the mindset of people in the middle east, not everyone but the vast majority under the poverty line, see matyrdom as the equivalent of being some sort of superhero.

And its the prats like these who get drafted by the power hungry murderers that cause all this trouble and strife, I mean have we seen a Bin-Laden suicide attack? or An Al-zarkawhi. No.

They keep returning to Palestine as the cause of all the problems but personally I think thats a long overused excuse, I don't agree with what Israel does in retaliation to attacks on its people but remember it was the Arab nations who started this back in the 70's, so what did they expect Israel to do? Sit back and say "yes all of my neighbouring countries tried to attack and invade me purely on the basis of religion, I know I'll be more friendly to them next we meet".

Bollox they did what Russia did after the close of WW2, they set up a buffer zone in occupied territory to prevent that kind of thing happening again, sure its not a pleasant thing to do, but its what they had to do.

What these people seem to forget is that killing and maiming people gets them nowhere, it just makes things worse for themselves and only better for those who control them.

I mean did Ghandi succeed in bringing about India's Independence by sending young men and women into crowded streets with bombs under their shirts? Did he heck as like.

Even under the oppression of the British Army who and lets face it for my country where quite a lot more uncivilised towards India then Israel has been towards Palestine and with a lot less of a legitimate reason to be so didn't see young Indians killing each other in the name of their religion.

Anyway nuff from me, you all have fun now.

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Thanks Cep

Gatchamania.net Administrator

Heh. Funny how the two sections get mixed up sometimes. ^_^ It turns into a huge rantfest.

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What if there is a spoon?

quote:

Originally posted by Cep I thought Tajira was a lad?

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"Spider sense....tingling."

Yeah...I don't watch any public television anymore...which means no tv for Elvin. ^_^ Too many pointing fingers, accusations, and not enough action from either side.

So...new controversy...Tajiri's gender! My vote's on male, since that's what the stats say!

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What if there is a spoon?

Your a wimp because you cant be bothered to dodge draft....

...isnt lawbreaking part of your culture? What about all those people abroad who have to do it?

and what is wrong with free healthcare? this country has had it for over 50 years. We regard it as a moral right.