THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release May 18, 1994

STATEMENT BY THE PRESS SECRETARY

The President has announced that he has approved a National Security Council recommendation to maintain peacetime draft registration and the Selective Service System (SSS).

In letters to the House and Senate, President Clinton stated that "...it is essential to our national security to continue draft registration and the Selective Service System. While tangible military requirements alone do not currently make a mass call-up of American young men likely, there are three reasons I believe we should maintain both the SSS and the draft registration requirement."

     First, the President stated that the SSS and registration 
     provide "...a hedge against unforeseen threats and a 
     relatively low cost 'insurance policy' against our 
     underestimating the maximum level of threat we expect our 
     Armed Forces to face."
  
     Next, "...terminating the SSS and draft registration now 
     could send the wrong signal to our potential enemies who are 
     watching for signs of U.S. resolve." 

     And finally, "...as fewer and fewer members of our society 
     have direct military experience, it is increasingly 
     important to maintain the link between the All Volunteer 
     Force and our society at large.  The Armed Forces must also 
     know that the general population stands behind them, 
     committed to serve, should the preservation of our national 
     security so require." 

     The NSC review leading to the President's decision has been 

conducted since January and consisted of representatives from the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the DoD Inspector General, the Joint Staff, the Corporation for National and Community Service, the Office of Management and Budget and the Selective Service System.

President Clinton urged Congress to support the Administration Fiscal Year 1995 request for $23 million for the Selective Service System.

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