The House Armed Service Committee voted late Wednesday for an amendment that would make women register for the military draft. 

The bipartisan proposal received a vote of 35-24 and was spearheaded by Pennsylvania Democratic Rep. Chrissy Houlahan and Florida Republican Rep. Mike Waltz. 

The term 'male citizen' would be struck from the current law and replaced with the non-gendered 'citizen.' 

As the law currently stands, males ages 18 through 25 have to register for the Pentagon's Selective Service System or face legal penalties. 

Houlahan, an Air Force veteran, argued during a markup session for the enormous National Defense Authorization Act, that including women would 'modernize' the military's Selective Service System.  

'This policy isn't rushed or unnecessary,' she said. 'For decades our citizens, both women and men, have been trying to make this change. It's past time.' 

She said it was a 'disservice' that women weren't included and said the Selective Service law, as written, is 'uncontitutional and discriminates based on sex.' 

'This amendment clarifies that the purpose of selective service is bigger than just drafting combat replacements,' she argued. 'It ensures that the selective service system is able to provide the DOD with all of the sufficient numbers of personnel, with all of the skills necessary, in the event of a national mobilization, which means cyber, STEM, technical talents and others.'

The Senate passed a similar amendment in its defense bill earlier this summer.