House Committee Votes To Register Women For The Draft

In an unexpected move, Republicans joined Democrats on the House Armed Services Committee to vote in favor of a proposal that would require young women to register for military conscription through the Selective Service System.

Republican Congressman Duncan Hunter of California sponsored the amendment, but voted against it, saying he only proposed the measure to raise questions about the recent policy change allowing women to serve in all combat roles.

The move backfired when five Republicans and nearly all Democrats on the committee voted in its favor. Here & Now co-host Robin Young speaks with NPR’s Tom Bowman about the measure.

Guest

• Tom Bowman, Pentagon correspondent for NPR. He tweets @TBowmanNPR.

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