Congressman Diaz-Balart Votes Against Mandatory Military Draft

Congressman Diaz-Balart Votes Against Mandatory Military Draft

WASHINGTON-Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.) today joined nearly every Republican in overwhelmingly rejecting a Democrat bill which would force the draft of every U.S. citizen between the ages of 18 and 26 to perform a two-year period of national service.

"Democrat leaders want to reinstate the military draft," Diaz-Balart said. "The only people talking about instituting any military draft are all Democrats - including John Kerry and John Edwards."

John Kerry and his running mate John Edwards have continually said that President Bush would institute a military draft in his next term. However, no one in the Administration, at the Department of Defense, or at the Selective Service System is advocating the reinstatement of the draft in any form.

"This reckless Democrat proposal fails to acknowledge the amazing job our military is doing," Diaz-Balart continued. "We have an experienced, trained, resilient, and disciplined all-volunteer force who wants to serve in the U.S. military and makes us proud everyday.

"President Bush and his Administration have been very firm in his opposition to any mandatory draft," Diaz-Balart concluded. "This Administration has no plans to institute a military draft, but John Kerry seems to like the idea."