Sec. 2. Findings
183 words·~1 min read·
/bill/117/hr/5867/ih/section-2A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Congress finds the following: Since 1973, the Armed Forces have relied on an all-volunteer force and do not require military conscription to fill personnel requirements. The Selective Service System is an independent Federal agency, with an annual budget of approximately $26,000,000, and is responsible for maintaining a database of registrants in case a draft is reinstated. Under current law, most men between the ages of 18 and 26 who are citizens or residents of the United States are required to register with the Selective Service System.
Men who fail to register with the Selective Service System are subject to penalties, including criminal penalties and the loss of eligibility for certain Federal and State benefits. The United States has not used the draft for induction into the Armed Forces in nearly five decades. The United States has only used conscription for 35 of its 245 years of existence. The all-volunteer force has been used in military conflicts since 1973, including Operation Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom.
The all-volunteer Armed Forces are the most professional and capable military in the world.