Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) has introduced several amendments into the National Defense Authorization Act of 2017, one which would do away with the draft and another that would release the redacted sections of the 9/11 Commission Report.
The amendment would repeal the Military Selective Service Act, which makes all eligible males between the ages of 18-26 sign up for the draft.The amendment would also do away with penalties for anyone who failed to sign up for Selective Service under federal law.
This may be in response to the Senate Armed Services Committee passing a version of the bill that would allow for the drafting of women into military service. The version the House passed did not change anything about the Selective Service, though the House Armed Services Committee did approve a version similar to their Senate counterparts.
Paul introduced another amendment which would declassify the 28 pages of the 9/11 Commission Report which have been withheld. This comes after the Senate unanimously approved legislation that would allow 9/11 victims’ families to sue Saudi Arabia, though Obama is expected to veto.
In addition to these amendments, Paul also introduced an amendment that would allow troops to carry either open or concealed firearms on military bases based on their state laws.
Debate is expected to start today on the Senate floor.
