New York representative Charles Rangel, a long time proponent of military conscription, said over the weekend that he wants the Congress to pass a national draft act before deciding on Syria.

During Saturday’s airing of MSNBCs Weekends with Alex Witt, the veteran Congressman said, “There’s no evidence that what’s happening in Syria is a threat to our National Security.”

Rangel said that if a vote were taken today, he would vote against authorizing military action. He called for Congress to pass a national draft act before deciding on Syria, Rangel said such a vote would force members to vote on war knowing it would have implications for the entire country.

This come one day after he made this official statement:

“I strongly abhor and condemn the news that chemical weapons were reportedly used by the government of Syria. However, I strongly urge the President to seek an affirmative decision of Congress prior to committing any U.S. military engagement to this complex crisis.

Before we commit our military personnel to another war, we must reinstate the draft. Reinstating the draft and requiring women to register for the Selective Service would compel the American public to have a stake in the wars we fight as a nation. We must question why and how we go to war, and who decides to send our men and women into harm’s way.

Military engagement should be our last resort. If we must go to war, every American should be compelled to stop and think twice about whether it is worth sending our brothers and sisters, and sons and daughters to fight. Currently less than one percent of America’s population is unfairly shouldering the burden of war.”

Rangel has been consistent on this matter over the years.

He made the following statements in 2006:

“There’s no question in my mind that this president and this administration would never have invaded Iraq, especially on the flimsy evidence that was presented to the Congress, if indeed we had a draft and members of Congress and the administration thought that their kids from their communities would be placed in harm’s way.”

“If we’re going to challenge Iran and challenge North Korea and then, as some people have asked, to send more troops to Iraq, we can’t do that without a draft.”