The National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service has been holding public hearings since February 2018 in order to gather and share information about its mandate to update the Selective Service System (and, therefore, draft and conscientious objector regulations) and to consider a mandatory service requirement.

On April 24 and 25, 2019, in Washington DC, at Gallaudet University, the Commission held four sessions specifically dedicated to whether the Selective Service System should be expanded or not. During the session at which our I offered public comment, there had been extensive discussion on whether “innate” qualities of women should exclude them from any potential draft. Thus, my remarks about the moral and core identity aspects of conscientious objection reference this immediately preceding discussion.