WASHINGTON (AFP) - The House was to vote on "The Universal National Service Act," also known as "The Reinstate the Draft Bill," which would require Americans aged 18-26 to perform two years of national service.
This would be either as a member of an active or reserve component of the armed services, or in a civilian capacity that promotes national defense.
Republican lawmakers said there is very little congressional support for reinstating the draft, and said the bill -- authored by liberal Democrat Charles Rangel -- faces certain defeat.
"This legislation will be considered and defeated," the House Armed Services Committee leadership said in a press release.
Americans still have to register for the draft but there have been no compulsory call-ups since 1973.
Members of Congress have been inundated by letters and phone calls from citizens over rumors that the draft is to be reinstated.
Those fears -- fanned by Internet websites and blogs -- have escalated as fighting intensifies in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the Pentagon struggles to keep troop deployments at current strength by extending tours in combat zones and recalling retired soldiers to active duty.
"Fanned" by blogs my white ass! The rumors were "fanned" by John Kerry and Democrat cronies. The whole draft issue, from the laws reinstating it to the rumors targeting Republicans as the source for the reinstatement efforts, has been perpetuated by Democrats from the beginning.