A new Bill has been drafted that would abolish the U.S. military draft if passed by Congress.

Bill H.R.4523 sets out to repeal the Military Selective Service Act thereby terminating the registration requirements of such Act and eliminate civilian local boards, civilian appeal boards, and similar local agencies of the Selective Service System.

It will be prersented to Congress in the form of a signed petition, started by peace activist David Swanson.

Why is this important?
A bureaucracy unused since Richard Nixon left office, an institution that has served no purpose since before people already too old for it were born, a machinery whose only function is to send huge numbers of unwilling young men (and some hope to expand it to include young women) into immoral actions should be abolished. This bipartisan bill would make that happen. The selective service budget is $23-26 million every year. There are also costs to the states and financial aid offices that must ensure people are registered before administering benefits. Many states automatically register men who obtain driver's licenses for selective service; that technology should remain in place but be used to automatically register men and women to vote. Opponents of war and supporters of conscientious objection back this bill. You can too.

SIGNED BY
David Swanson, WarIsACrime.org
Kathy Kelly, Voices for Creative Nonviolence
Alice Slater
David Hartsough
Maria Santelli, Center on Conscience and War
Leah Bolger