June 23, 1971
Page 21580
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, I will vote for cloture today because I have always believed that once full debate on the merits of pending legislation has been completed and further discussion is for delay that the Senate should proceed to a vote on the question before it. All the main questions associated with the draft have been fully debated and voted upon. The Senate has considered reform of the draft, replacing the draft with a volunteer army, increasing pay, troop levels in Europe, and ending the war in Vietnam. Although I do not agree with the outcome of many of these debates, further consideration of the bill will not change the position of the Senate.
If cloture is invoked there will still be an opportunity for 100 hours of debate, and there will be a vote on every germane amendment pending to the draft bill.
It is clearly the purpose of some to prolong debate in order to prevent the draft bill from being enacted. Because I believe that the draft system is the most equitable way for distributing the burdens of defense during times of crisis and war, I do not favor the elimination of the draft.
Therefore, I favor a continuation of the draft, especially with the pay raises included in this bill that will lead eventually to zero draft calls.
I do not believe that blocking renewal of the draft will materially contribute to ending the war in Vietnam. Our manpower needs in Vietnam are steadily decreasing as troops are withdrawn and pay raises are helping to increase the number of volunteers. Cutting off the draft for a period of time would not have a dramatic effect upon the continuation of the President's Vietnamization program.
I favor ending the war in Indochina with a date certain. Yesterday, by adopting the Mansfield amendment, the Senate took a step in that direction. I think we should speed this major move to end the war on its way toward possible enactment. I think this is the best and most effective way of withdrawing our military personnel from Indochina, and a filibuster on the draft will not contribute to this end.
By sending the draft bill to the House with the Mansfield amendment attached, there will be maximum pressure to accept the Senate version as is in order to avoid conference and pass an extension of the draft prior to the expiration date of June 30.