Date: 1981-01-15
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President on January 5. the second phase of the military registration plan began. This phase called for young men born in 196219yearolds--to register from January 5 to January 10. Right after the January 10 registration. the Selective Service System went to a system of continuous registration. which means that every young man will be required to register within 30 days after reaching his 18th birthday. If the response to the second phase of the military registration plan is anywhere near as high as the response to the first phase. it will undoubtedly be a success. The first phase began on July 21. 1980. and continued for 2 weeks. At that time. 19- and 20yearolds were required to register. There was a 94.5percent response to the first registration period. and eligible men continued to register after the official registration period. Presidentelect Reagan promised to address the question of military registration early in his administration. During the campaign. he criticized President Carters military registration plan. Immediately after the campaign. some people began urging the newly elected President to act quickly to cancel military registration. I understand that the Presidentelect has decided to study the matter in more depth before making a decision. While some on his transition team support cancellation of military registration. others. namely those on the Defense Department transition team. want to continue the registration requirement. I am please that Mr. Reagan decided to postpone his decision on military registration. This is not a decision to be taken lightly. and I think that by postponing it. the Presidentelect gives himself the opportunity to consult with his advisers and carefully assess our military preparedness and defense capabilities. As President and Commander in Chief of our Armed Force. he might well view the situation differently. I hope he will. I am a strong advocate of military registration. I was an active supporter of President Carters proposal during the Senates consideration last July of a resolution to revitalize the Selective Service System and to provide for the military registration of men aged 18. 19. and 20. While I am familiar with the arguments against military registration which Mr. Reagan made during his campaign for the Presidency. they are inconsistent with the strong stands he has taken on foreign policy and defense. In his statements advocating a strong national defense. it is clear that Mr. Reagan recognizes the importance of military preparedness. I believe that military registration will enhance our military preparedness by providing a pool of backup manpower which could save crucial days in the event of a mobilization. Mr. Reagan calls for an adequate reserve that can be called up at a moments notice. and a skilled. experienced AllVolunteer Force that can handle sophisticated equipment. The Senate supports these goals. as it clearly indicated last year when it moved to increase the salaries and benefits for our military forces to attract and retain skilled personnel. The vote to reinstitute military registration demonstrated our commitment and our resolve to upgrade our defence capabilities and military preparedness. I believe this action was perceived as a realistic. substantive response to potential and unpredictable international crises. It sent a signal to the Soviet Union and to our allies of our determination to place our Armed Forces in a state of readiness in the event that they have to respond to a military emergency. Cancelling military registrationre.versing a decision which a majority in the last Congress supportedwould send .another. potentially damaging. signal. It would create the impression that our commitment to strengthen our military preparedness and defense capabilities is an empty commitment. I am confident that Mr. Reagan will thoroughly examine this issue. I hope that his decision will be one that I and I am sure a majority of my colleagues in the Senate can supportthat is. to continue military registration.*