Free Republic

Actually, this has been an ongoing debate on one level, and an episodic debate on another. Charles Rangel and other progressives have beat the drum for a military draft ever since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, not because it was necessary militarily, but because Rangel and his allies thought it would make America more isolationist and pacifist. They argued, and continue to argue, that military sacrifice falls disproportionately on the middle and working classes, as well as on minorities — despite the fact that the US military has been entirely volunteer since the end of the Vietnam War forty years...

A bill introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., would reinstate a compulsory military draft during war time and require U.S. citizens not selected for military duty to perform a "national service obligation" – as defined by President Obama – for a minimum of two years. Rangel introduced the Universal National Service Act, or H.R. 5741 on July 15. The measure was referred to the House Armed Services' Subcommittee on Military Personnel on July 23. Rangel introduced similar bills in 2003, 2006 and 2007. His current bill does not have a co-sponsor. Rangel took to the...

Jul 15, 2010 - Introduced in House. This is the original text of the bill as it was written by its sponsor and submitted to the House for consideration. This is the latest version of the bill currently available on GovTrack. HR 5741 IH 111th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5741 To require all persons in the United States between the ages of 18 and 42 to perform national service, either as a member of the uniformed services or in civilian service in furtherance of the national defense and homeland security, to authorize the induction of persons in the uniformed...

PALO ALTO, Calif.--The following is a statement from Yvonne Hunt, director Social Investment at HP: “HP is very pleased that President Barack Obama has signed the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, a law designed to encourage volunteerism in the United States. The House of Representatives and the Senate should also be congratulated for passing the bill and fostering community service. “The Serve America Act will encourage many Americans to contribute to their communities through service. It provides scholarships to retirees who volunteer; expands the kinds of activities eligible under the AmeriCorps program; and calls for an additional 250,000 participants...

President Barack Obama is picking a Nike vice president to lead the federal agency that oversees the country's national service programs. Obama's selection of Maria Eitel comes Tuesday as the president plans to sign a bill to triple the size of AmeriCorps and expand other programs that the corporation administers. Eitel is nominated to be chief executive officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service, a job that requires Senate confirmation. Eitel is also the president of Nike Inc.'s charitable arm, the Nike Foundation. She served under President George H.W. Bush as deputy director of media relations and later...

National Civilian Security Force

A strong sense of civic duty, coupled with a weak economy, is leading many college students to national service as a way to earn money for school while giving back to their country. This comes at a time when President Obama has renewed a call to service for all Americans, an “all hands on deck” approach to solving many of the systemic problems our country faces. When he signs the Serve America Act into law, which was recently passed by Congress with incredible bipartisan support thanks to groups like Georgetown’s chapter of ServeNext, young people will face unprecedented opportunities to...

The U.S. Senate on Thursday voted for the biggest boost in public service since President John F. Kennedy urged Americans in 1961 to "ask what you can do for your country." Divided over efforts to stem greed and abuse on Wall Street and to carve out a budget amid economic crisis, the Senate showed rare unity in approving -- by a vote of 78-20 -- a $5.7 billion bill to enlist Americans to help the needy at home and abroad amid the global recession. * Legislation would boost national service * Obama promises to sign into law * Draws broad...

The Senate agreed Monday to take up legislation to triple the size of the AmeriCorps program and open up opportunities for more people to serve their communities. Lawmakers voted 74-14 to move to the legislation that would expand AmeriCorps from its current 75,000 positions to 250,000 over the course of eight years. Sixty votes were needed to bring the bill to the floor. The measure is expected to come up for a final vote in the Senate sometime this week. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., who is being treated for brain cancer, made a rare appearance on the Senate floor...

A little-publicized Department of Defense Directive (Number 1404.10) establishes a "DoD Civilian Expeditionary Workforce" and rescinds a prior directive dealing with the emergency use of civilian personnel. The new 1404.10, dated January 23, 2009 -- just three days after the inauguration -- is effective immediately, and cancels the prior directive of the same designation ("Emergency-Essential (E-E) DoD U.S. Citizen Civilian Employees"), that was issued in 1992 under President Clinton. The 1992 directive specifically deals with overseas deployments of civilian personnel, and mentions the term "overseas" no fewer than 33 times. The new directive does not mention the term "overseas" in...

A reader comment over at Dollard's place nails it. (http://patdollard.com/) Plain and simple .... and true. This is what I see. I wish I had written it. (hat tip mg) ~~~ I am a student of history. Professionally. I have written 15 books in six languages, and have studied it all my life. I think there is something monumentally large afoot, and I do not believe it is just a banking crisis, or a mortgage crisis, or a credit crisis. Yes these exist, but they are merely single facets on a very large gemstone that is only now coming into...

NASHUA, N.H. - Aiming to create the first generation in which all Americans serve their country, Democratic presidential hopeful Chris Dodd is offering a range of initiatives to encourage — and in some cases compel — community service. "All Americans should serve our country," the Connecticut senator said in remarks prepared for delivery Saturday. "Endowed as we are with so many gifts, is it too much to ask that we each give something back to this remarkable place?" He proposes making community service mandatory for all high school students, doubling the size of the Peace Corps by 2011 and expanding...

DLC | Blueprint Magazine July 25, 2004 National Service By Marc Porter Magee If John Kerry wins the presidency, he plans to expand the cornerstone New Democrat idea of national service to a truly national scale. Building on the beachhead that was established through the creation of AmeriCorps in the 1990s, Kerry would dramatically increase both the opportunities and the incentives for service. Just as importantly, he would connect service to the key domestic and international challenges of our time, such as providing for a strong national defense, bolstering homeland security, and improving our public schools. At the heart of...

Part of 100 days Plan to Enlist One Million Americans in National Service A Year On September 11th, 2001, America experienced the most terrible and deadly attack in its history. John Kerry believes we need to think big and do better and get more young Americans serving the nation. As part of his 100 day plan to change America, John Kerry will propose a comprehensive service plan that includes requiring mandatory service for high school students and four years of college tuition in exchange for two years of national service.

As part of his 100 day plan to change America, John Kerry will propose a comprehensive service plan that includes requiring mandatory service for high school students and four years of college tuition in exchange for two years of national service.