PRINTER'S NO. 395
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
77
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY CRUZ, YOUNGBLOOD, SCHLOSSBERG, KINSEY, McCLINTON,
CALTAGIRONE, HILL-EVANS, READSHAW, MURT AND NEILSON,
FEBRUARY 11, 2019
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS, FEBRUARY 11, 2019
A RESOLUTION
Urging the Congress of the United States to amend the Military
Selective Service Act to require both men and women to
register for the draft.
WHEREAS, Women served the United States Army during the
American Revolution, nursing ill and wounded soldiers, mending
clothing and cooking for the troops; and
WHEREAS, Women have served the United States Armed Forces in
some capacity during every military conflict in our nation's
history; and
WHEREAS, In addition to the recognized role of women in the
armed forces during every military conflict, women have had de
facto involvement in combat situations while being officially
banned from combat; and
WHEREAS, For most of the early history of the United States
military, women primarily served in clerical or military medical
support services roles; and
WHEREAS, Women's formal military service began when the
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
Congress of the United States established the Army Nurse Corps
in 1901 and the Navy Nurse Corps in 1908; and
WHEREAS, World War II compelled the Congress of the United
States to provide for additional, extremely limited service
roles due to the urgent need for manpower; and
WHEREAS, In the latter half of the 20th century, social
change spurring the end of the military draft and the beginning
of an all-volunteer force, along with the equal rights movement,
led to increased integration of the United States Armed Forces;
and
WHEREAS, In more than a decade of war in Iraq and
Afghanistan, more than 225,000 women have served with courage,
skill and patriotism; and
WHEREAS, More than 152 women in uniform have died while
serving our nation in Iraq and Afghanistan; and
WHEREAS, Women currently make up more than 15% of the active-
duty personnel in the United States Armed Forces; and
WHEREAS, Women are integral to the ability of the Department
of Defense to fulfill its mission; and
WHEREAS, The United States Secretary of Defense announced the
end of the direct ground combat exclusion rule for female
service members in January 2013 following a unanimous
recommendation by the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and
WHEREAS, The decision to end the direct ground combat
exclusion rule opened approximately 237,000 positions to women,
including 184,000 combat arms professions and 53,000 assignments
that had been closed based on unit type; and
WHEREAS, This has ensured that the most qualified and most
capable service members are available to carry out the mission
regardless of gender; and
20190HR0077PN0395 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
WHEREAS, The Secretary of Defense has further directed that
military service branches evaluate all occupational performance
standards to ensure that they are up to date and gender neutral
as part of a plan to eliminate unnecessary gender-based barriers
to service; and
WHEREAS, Upon full implementation of the policy, military
occupations will be closed to women only by exception and only
if approved by the Secretary of Defense; and
WHEREAS, The Military Selective Service Act requires every
male citizen of the United States and every male residing in the
United States between 18 and 26 years of age to register with
the Selective Service System; and
WHEREAS, Full equality for women in the United States Armed
Forces should begin with gender-neutral Selective Service System
registration; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urge the Congress of the United
States to amend the Military Selective Service Act to require
both men and women to register for the draft; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
the President of the United States, the presiding officers of
each house of Congress and each member of Congress from
Pennsylvania.
20190HR0077PN0395 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23