WASHINGTON -- Sen. Chuck Hagel, a Vietnam War veteran and influential member of the Foreign Relations Committee, wants the United States to consider reviving the draft as part of a broader effort to ensure that all Americans "bear some responsibility, ... pay some price" in defending the nation's interests.

At a committee hearing Tuesday and in subsequent interviews, the Nebraska Republican said he was not advocating reinstatement of the draft, although he added that he was "not so sure that isn't a bad idea."

His main interest, he said, is to ensure that some kind of mandatory national service is considered, so "the privileged, the rich," as well as the less affluent bear the burden of fighting wars of the future.

Hagel said he did not expect to see action on such a bill this year but wanted to spark debate that would "bring some reality to our policy-making" about future military needs. With American forces in Iraq stretched thinner than they have been at any time since Vietnam and with wartime needs likely to continue indefinitely, "this is a steam engine coming right down the track at us," he said.

Appearing with Hagel on NBC's "Today" show, Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware, ranking Democrat on the Foreign Relations panel, agreed with Hagel's goal of shared sacrifice and did not rule out a draft. But "I don't think it's necessary now," Biden said.

Legislation has been introduced in both chambers of Congress to revive the draft, which was ended in 1973 as the Vietnam War wound down and subsequently replaced by an all-volunteer army. The bills are sponsored by Sen. Ernest Hollings, D-S.C., and Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y. No action has been scheduled on either bill.