(U-WIRE) BOULDER, Colo. – The lives of every 18-to 26-year-old could be dramatically affected later this week when HR 163 comes before the House of Representatives.

The bill, called the “Universal National Service Act of 2003,” would require all young persons in the United States, including women, to perform military or civilian service for national defense, homeland security or domestic service.

“Our plan simply says that everyone is required to do public service for a period of time,” said Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash, who co-introduced the legislation last year. “You could work in mental hospitals. You could work in the Peace Corps. There are a lot of places where you could serve our country for a year.”

Critics of the bill, however, call it a military draft. And rumors around the University of Colorado and campuses across the country have held that a military draft for college-age students is a looming threat following the November elections.

What is the draft?

In 1940, President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Selective Training and Service Act, which created the Selective Service as its own federal agency and allowed for the first peacetime draft.

In 1973, at the end of the Vietnam War, the draft became so unpopular that the military went to an all-volunteer force. In 1975, registration for the draft was stopped.

Registration was again begun in 1980 under then-President Jimmy Carter in response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

The requirement of registering for the draft for male youths of our society exists still today under the Military Selective Service Act (50 USC 451).

“While the president can issue the order, Congress has to issue the funds,” said Michael Kanner, a Political Science Professor at CU who met the standards to be drafted in 1974, but enlisted into the military a year earlier.

Is a draft necessary?

Many think a draft is looming because of the overextended military doing double duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, despite statements to the contrary by the Bush Administration.

-Joseph Thomas

“We’ve got guards and reserves who are doing double duties,” said Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass, in the first presidential debate with President Bush last week. “We’ve got a backdoor draft taking place in America today: people with stop-loss programs where they’re told you can’t get out of the military; nine out of our 10 active duty divisions committed to Iraq.”

Others think that in an election year, some say the idea of a draft is just partisan politics being played out in Washington.

“Any suggestion that a military draft is forthcoming is nothing more than an election-year scare tactic and an example of demagoguery at its worst,” wrote Rep. Joel Hefley, R-Colo., in an e-mail to the Colorado Daily.

Hefley, who serves on the House Armed Services Committee, wrote “While the servicemen and women of the U.S. Armed Forces are stretched tightly across the globe, our military is meeting its recruitment and retention goals.”

While others don’t think it is partisan politics, there is agreement that the idea of a draft or mandatory national service would not receive much support, if any at all.

“The draft is not a popular idea with people, with Congress or with the President,” said Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo., who serves on the Senate Armed Service subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities. “The draft will not happen. There are only two people talking about it Sen. Fritz Hollings, D-S.C. and Rep. Charlie Rangel, D-N.Y., authors of service act bills in the House and Senate.

Even some Democrats doubt the near-term reality of a draft.

“It is stronger medicine than we need right now,” said Rep. Mark Udall, a Colorado Democrat whose 2nd Congressional District encompasses Boulder and CU. “The vote won’t even be close; even Charlie Rangel will vote against his own bill.”

There are others who fear if President Bush gets re-elected, a draft could follow.

“If George Bush gets re-elected and the Republicans win the House and the Senate, they will continue to rubber-stamp his proposals as they have for the last two years,” said McDermott.

The bill was fast-tracked past the Armed Services Committee to the floor of the House. For it to become law, it needs a two-thirds vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, along with Presidential approval.

As the question of staffing levels of the military looms, some believe the possibility of a draft is the biggest issue for youth voters. Even if it isn’t, Udall said, it could be a catalyst for the youth vote.

“The fact that a draft is even being discussed (on a congressional and presidential level) shows how important it is for youth to vote,” said Udall.