Jack Reed: “I believe that Americans are ready and willing to answer the call to serve, to come together and meet the challenges…”

“I believe that Americans are ready and willing to answer the call to serve, to come together and meet the challenges that we face at the local, national, and international level. We just need to create the conditions to mobilize them. That is why I am proud to join Senator Young in introducing the Unity through Service Act. Our legislation is based on the recommendations of the National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service. The Commission was established in the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act. At that time, the Armed Services Committee faced a critical question: Should women be required to register for the draft? Chairman John McCain and I quickly understood that the question was also about something bigger. What does it mean for the Nation when so many people do not have the common experience of service, whether in the military or in their communities? And what happens when those who want to serve do not have the opportunity to do so? With those thoughts in mind, we established the Commission to look at the issue of service comprehensively. The Commission published its final report and recommendations just as the COVID-19 pandemic began to grip the Nation. It set a 10-year goal for 5 million Americans to begin participating in military, national, or public service each year.…”