Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) on Wednesday renewed his call for a military draft, speaking on the House floor on the anniversary of Pearl Harbor.
"If America is going to take this position, all Americans should be prepared to make the sacrifices as the gentleman before me has," said Rangel after Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) spoke touting the success of U.S. troops in Afghanistan, according to The Hill. "It's abundantly clear that everybody does not assume the same sacrifices, whether we're talking about taxes or loss of life."
"I submit that we have to have a draft," he continued.
Rangel has submitted legislation to reinstate the military draft several times since January 2003 during the run-up to the invasion of Iraq. In 2004, the House of Representatives voted down his measure by a 2-402 vote. He has said before introducing the bill that he indeed does not expect it to pass.
Rangel has said he favors a draft because he believes that it would lead to more responsible military decisions. "The moral hazard in planning for war is too great -- if we want responsible leadership, we must share the sacrifice," he said in 2011 in The Huffington Post.
Rangel served in the Korean War and earned a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star for his service. After he was wounded in Korea in the battle that earned him his decorations, he said that he has "never, never had a bad day."
