WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), a third-generation veteran and member of the House Armed Services Committee, responded to public confusion about her and Rep Don Bacon’s (R-NE) efforts to modernize the nation’s Selective Service System in the following statement: 

“I want to set the record straight: Since 1917, men aged 18 to 25 have been required to register with the Selective Service. This new legislation saves taxpayers significant money and makes it easier for these men to follow the law and register with the Selective Service. That is all. Full stop.

“This legislation does not reinstate the draft. Reinstating the draft would require a separate act by Congress that would have to pass both the U.S. House and Senate and be signed into law by the President. This idea is not currently being weighed in either chamber. Our nation has not had a military draft in more than a half-century, and I spend a great deal of my time in Congress working to ensure that we never will again,” said Houlahan. 

Earlier this year, when Houlahan learned that we spend an estimated $30 million in taxpayer dollars each year to remind eligible American men to register with the Selective Service System, she asked if there was a better way. The decline in registration is largely the result of two factors: automatic registration being removed from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which accounted for 25% of registrations, and fewer young people getting driver’s licenses, a common method of registering. Her amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to make registration automatic was introduced with Rep Don Bacon (R, NE-06) and had unanimous, bipartisan support in the Armed Services Committee. It also passed the whole House with bipartisan support in the final NDAA.

In addition to saving significant taxpayer money, automatic registration alleviates the burden on young men, preventing them from unknowingly committing a felony. Neglecting to register carries a large fine, prison time, a prohibition on any job with the federal government and some state and local governments, and limitations on access to programs such as student loans and job training.

The Senate is expected to release its version of the NDAA soon and include a provision expanding Selective Service registration to women. Houlahan supports gender equity in our Armed Services and has led bipartisan efforts to include women in Selective Service registration in the past.

“In the last half-century, the demographics of our military have changed dramatically,” said Houlahan. “Today, women proudly serve in every role of our military, and we are stronger and better defended because of their service. My goal is always to find consensus and put forward policy proposals that are not only pragmatic but also possible. I look forward to those worthy discussions and continuing to hear from my constituents on this important topic.” 

Houlahan is an Air Force veteran, an engineer, a serial entrepreneur, an educator, and a nonprofit leader. She represents Pennsylvania’s 6th Congressional District, which encompasses Chester County and southern Berks County. She serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. She is the recipient of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Abraham Lincoln Leadership for America Award which “recognizes members who demonstrate the bipartisan leadership and constructive governing necessary to move our country forward” and the Congressional Management Foundation’s 2022 Democracy Award for best Constituent Services in Congress.

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