I 
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 services during wartime to meet end-strength requirements 
of the uniformed services, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 15, 2010 
Mr. RANGEL introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Armed Services 
A BILL 
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 home-
land security, to authorize the induction of persons in 
the uniformed services during wartime to meet end- 
strength requirements of the uniformed services, and for 
other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Universal National Service Act’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
TITLE I—NATIONAL SERVICE 
Sec. 101. Definitions. 
Sec. 102. National service obligation. 
Sec. 103. Induction to perform national service. 
Sec. 104. Two-year period of national service. 
Sec. 105. Implementation by the President. 
Sec. 106. Examination and classification of persons. 
Sec. 107. Deferments and postponements. 
Sec. 108. Induction exemptions. 
Sec. 109. Conscientious objection. 
Sec. 110. Discharge following national service. 
TITLE II—AMENDMENTS TO MILITARY SELECTIVE SERVICE ACT 
Sec. 201. Registration of females. 
Sec. 202. Registration and induction authority. 
TITLE I—NATIONAL SERVICE 
SEC. 101. DEFINITIONS. 
In this title: 
(1) The term ‘‘contingency operation’’ has the 
meaning given that term in section 101(a)(13) of 
title 10, United States Code. 
(2) The term ‘‘military service’’ means service 
performed as a member of an active or reserve com-
ponent of the uniformed services. 
(3) The term ‘‘national service’’ means military 
service or service in a civilian capacity that, as deter-
mined by the President, promotes the national de-
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fense, including national or community service and 
service related to homeland security. 
(4) The term ‘‘Secretary concerned’’ means the 
Secretary of Defense with respect to the Army, 
Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, the Secretary 
of Homeland Security with respect to the Coast 
Guard, the Secretary of Commerce, with respect to 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra-
tion, and the Secretary of Health and Human Serv-
ices, with respect to the Public Health Service. 
(5) The term ‘‘United States’’, when used in a 
geographical sense, means the several States, the 
District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Is-
lands, and Guam. 
(6) The term ‘‘uniformed services’’ means the 
Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, 
commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and At-
mospheric Administration, and commissioned corps 
of the Public Health Service. 
SEC. 102. NATIONAL SERVICE OBLIGATION. 
(a) OBLIGATION FOR SERVICE.—It is the obligation 
of every citizen of the United States, and every other per-
son residing in the United States, who is between the ages 
of 18 and 42 to perform a period of national service as 
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prescribed in this title unless exempted under the provi-
sions of this title. 
(b) FORMS OF NATIONAL SERVICE.—The national 
service obligation under this title shall be performed ei-
ther— 
(1) as a member of an active or reserve compo-
nent of the uniformed services; or 
(2) in a civilian capacity that, as determined by 
the President, promotes the national defense, includ-
ing national or community service and service re-
lated to homeland security. 
(c) AGE LIMITS.—A person may be inducted under 
this title only if the person has attained the age of 18 
and has not attained the age of 42. 
SEC. 103. INDUCTION TO PERFORM NATIONAL SERVICE. 
(a) INDUCTION
REQUIREMENTS.—The President 
shall provide for the induction of persons described in sec-
tion 102(a) to perform their national service obligation. 
(b) LIMITATION ON INDUCTION FOR MILITARY SERV-
ICE.—Persons described in section 102(a) may be in-
ducted to perform military service only if— 
(1) a declaration of war is in effect; 
(2) the President declares a national emer-
gency, which the President determines necessitates 
the induction of persons to perform military service, 
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and immediately informs Congress of the reasons for 
the declaration and the need to induct persons for 
military service; or 
(3) members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, or 
Marine Corps are engaged in a contingency oper-
ation pursuant to a congressional authorization for 
the use of military force. 
(c) LIMITATION ON NUMBER OF PERSONS INDUCTED 
FOR MILITARY SERVICE.—When the induction of persons 
for military service is authorized by subsection (b), the 
President shall determine the number of persons described 
in section 102(a) whose national service obligation is to 
be satisfied through military service based on— 
(1) the authorized end strengths of the uni-
formed services; 
(2) the feasibility of the uniformed services to 
recruit sufficient volunteers to achieve such end- 
strength levels; and 
(3) provide a mechanism for the random selec-
tion of persons to be inducted to perform military 
service. 
(d) SELECTION FOR INDUCTION.— 
(1) RANDOM SELECTION FOR MILITARY SERV-
ICE.—When the induction of persons for military 
service is authorized by subsection (b), the President 
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shall utilize a mechanism for the random selection of 
persons to be inducted to perform military service. 
(2) CIVILIAN SERVICE.—Persons described in 
section 102(a) who do not volunteer to perform mili-
tary service or are not inducted for military service 
shall perform their national service obligation in a 
civilian capacity pursuant to section 102(b)(2). 
(e) VOLUNTARY SERVICE.—A person subject to in-
duction under this title may— 
(1) volunteer to perform national service in lieu 
of being inducted; or 
(2) request permission to be inducted at a time 
other than the time at which the person is otherwise 
called for induction. 
SEC. 104. TWO-YEAR PERIOD OF NATIONAL SERVICE. 
(a) GENERAL RULE.—Except as otherwise provided 
in this section, the period of national service performed 
by a person under this title shall be two years. 
(b) GROUNDS FOR EXTENSION.—At the discretion of 
the President, the period of military service for a member 
of the uniformed services under this title may be ex-
tended— 
(1) with the consent of the member, for the 
purpose of furnishing hospitalization, medical, or 
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surgical care for injury or illness incurred in line of 
duty; or 
(2) for the purpose of requiring the member to 
compensate for any time lost to training for any 
cause. 
(c) EARLY TERMINATION.—The period of national 
service for a person under this title shall be terminated 
before the end of such period under the following cir-
cumstances: 
(1) The voluntary enlistment and active service 
of the person in an active or reserve component of 
the uniformed services for a period of at least two 
years, in which case the period of basic military 
training and education actually served by the person 
shall be counted toward the term of enlistment. 
(2) The admission and service of the person as 
a cadet or midshipman at the United States Military 
Academy, the United States Naval Academy, the 
United States Air Force Academy, the Coast Guard 
Academy, or the United States Merchant Marine 
Academy. 
(3) The enrollment and service of the person in 
an officer candidate program, if the person has 
signed an agreement to accept a Reserve commission 
in the appropriate service with an obligation to serve 
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on active duty if such a commission is offered upon 
completion of the program. 
(4) Such other grounds as the President may 
establish. 
SEC. 105. IMPLEMENTATION BY THE PRESIDENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The President shall prescribe 
such regulations as are necessary to carry out this title. 
(b) MATTER TO BE COVERED BY REGULATIONS.— 
Such regulations shall include specification of the fol-
lowing: 
(1) The types of civilian service that may be 
performed in order for a person to satisfy the per-
son’s national service obligation under this title. 
(2) Standards for satisfactory performance of 
civilian service and of penalties for failure to per-
form civilian service satisfactorily. 
(3) The manner in which persons shall be se-
lected for induction under this title, including the 
manner in which those selected will be notified of 
such selection. 
(4) All other administrative matters in connec-
tion with the induction of persons under this title 
and the registration, examination, and classification 
of such persons. 
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(5) A means to determine questions or claims 
with respect to inclusion for, or exemption or 
deferment from induction under this title, including 
questions of conscientious objection. 
(6) Standards for compensation and benefits 
for persons performing their national service obliga-
tion under this title through civilian service. 
(7) Such other matters as the President deter-
mines necessary to carry out this title. 
(c) USE OF PRIOR ACT.—To the extent determined 
appropriate by the President, the President may use for 
purposes of this title the procedures provided in the Mili-
tary Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. App. 451 et seq.), 
including procedures for registration, selection, and induc-
tion. 
SEC. 106. EXAMINATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF PER-
SONS. 
(a) EXAMINATION.—Every person subject to induc-
tion under this title shall, before induction, be physically 
and mentally examined and shall be classified as to fitness 
to perform national service. 
(b) DIFFERENT CLASSIFICATION STANDARDS.—The 
President may apply different classification standards for 
fitness for military service and fitness for civilian service. 
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SEC. 107. DEFERMENTS AND POSTPONEMENTS. 
(a) HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.—A person who is pur-
suing a standard course of study, on a full-time basis, in 
a secondary school or similar institution of learning shall 
be entitled to have induction under this title postponed 
until the person— 
(1) obtains a high school diploma; 
(2) ceases to pursue satisfactorily such course 
of study; or 
(3) attains the age of 20. 
(b) HARDSHIP AND DISABILITY.—Deferments from 
national service under this title may be made for— 
(1) extreme hardship; or 
(2) physical or mental disability. 
(c) TRAINING CAPACITY.—The President may post-
pone or suspend the induction of persons for military serv-
ice under this title as necessary to limit the number of 
persons receiving basic military training and education to 
the maximum number that can be adequately trained. 
(d) TERMINATION.—No deferment or postponement 
of induction under this title shall continue after the cause 
of such deferment or postponement ceases. 
SEC. 108. INDUCTION EXEMPTIONS. 
(a) QUALIFICATIONS.—No person may be inducted 
for military service under this title unless the person is 
acceptable to the Secretary concerned for training and 
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meets the same health and physical qualifications applica-
ble under section 505 of title 10, United States Code, to 
persons seeking original enlistment in a regular compo-
nent of the Armed Forces. 
(b) OTHER MILITARY SERVICE.—No person shall be 
liable for induction under this title who— 
(1) is serving, or has served honorably for at 
least six months, in any component of the uniformed 
services on active duty; or 
(2) is or becomes a cadet or midshipman at the 
United States Military Academy, the United States 
Naval Academy, the United States Air Force Acad-
emy, the Coast Guard Academy, the United States 
Merchant Marine Academy, a midshipman of a Navy 
accredited State maritime academy, a member of the 
Senior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, or the 
naval aviation college program, so long as that per-
son satisfactorily continues in and completes at least 
two years training therein. 
SEC. 109. CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION. 
(a) CLAIMS AS CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR.—Noth-
ing in this title shall be construed to require a person to 
be subject to combatant training and service in the uni-
formed services, if that person, by reason of sincerely held 
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moral, ethical, or religious beliefs, is conscientiously op-
posed to participation in war in any form. 
(b) ALTERNATIVE NONCOMBATANT
OR CIVILIAN 
SERVICE.—A person who claims exemption from combat-
ant training and service under subsection (a) and whose 
claim is sustained by the local board shall— 
(1) be assigned to noncombatant service (as de-
fined by the President), if the person is inducted 
into the uniformed services; or 
(2) be ordered by the local board, if found to 
be conscientiously opposed to participation in such 
noncombatant service, to perform national civilian 
service for the period specified in section 104(a) and 
subject to such regulations as the President may 
prescribe. 
SEC. 110. DISCHARGE FOLLOWING NATIONAL SERVICE. 
(a) DISCHARGE.—Upon completion or termination of 
the obligation to perform national service under this title, 
a person shall be discharged from the uniformed services 
or from civilian service, as the case may be, and shall not 
be subject to any further service under this title. 
(b) COORDINATION WITH OTHER AUTHORITIES.— 
Nothing in this section shall limit or prohibit the call to 
active service in the uniformed services of any person who 
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is a member of a regular or reserve component of the uni-
formed services. 
TITLE 
II—AMENDMENTS 
TO 
MILITARY SELECTIVE SERV-
ICE ACT 
SEC. 201. REGISTRATION OF FEMALES. 
(a) REGISTRATION REQUIRED.—Section 3(a) of the 
Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. 453(a)) is 
amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘male’’ both places it appears; 
(2) by inserting ‘‘or herself’’ after ‘‘himself’’; 
and 
(3) by striking ‘‘he’’ and inserting ‘‘the per-
son’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 16(a) of 
the Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. App. 466(a)) 
is amended by striking ‘‘men’’ and inserting ‘‘persons’’. 
SEC. 202. REGISTRATION AND INDUCTION AUTHORITY. 
(a) REGISTRATION.—Section 4 of the Military Selec-
tive Service Act (50 U.S.C. App. 454) is amended by in-
serting after subsection (g) the following new subsection: 
‘‘(h) This section does not apply with respect to the 
induction of persons into the Armed Forces pursuant to 
the Universal National Service Act.’’. 
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(b) INDUCTION.—Section 17(c) of the Military Selec-
tive Service Act (50 U.S.C. App. 467(c)) is amended by 
striking ‘‘now or hereafter’’ and all that follows through 
the period at the end and inserting ‘‘inducted pursuant 
to the Universal National Service Act.’’. 
Æ 
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