Oklahoma's U.S. senators don't want women to register for the draft

WASHINGTON — Oklahoma's senators joined several other Republicans on Monday in urging defense bill negotiators to kill a provision requiring women to register for the draft beginning in 2018.

"We believe it is better to refrain from this expansion and to instead, task an independent commission to study the purpose and utility of the Selective Service System, specifically determining whether the current system is unneeded, if it is sufficient or if it needs an expanded pool of potential draftees," a letter signed by 17 Republican senators states.

Sens. Jim Inhofe, R-Tulsa, and James Lankford, R-Oklahoma City, were among those signing the letter.

The House and Senate approved their own versions of the annual defense bill, and only the Senate version requires women to register for the draft.