WASHINGTON — A new Republican proposal would ban women from combat support units in all four services and require the Defense Department to study if female troops have been receiving combat-related assignments over the past decade.

Last week, a House Armed Services subcommittee approved a ban on women in Army combat support units, over objections from Democrats and the Army.

The new measure, part of the House’s 2006 defense budget proposal, also would apply to sailors, airmen and Marines and would specifically ban women from:

Units that collocate with ground combat forces.Units with long-range reconnaissance or special operations missions.Units where “the costs of appropriate berthing and privacy arrangements would be prohibitive.”Units where “job-related physical requirements would necessarily exclude the vast majority of female members.”A vote on the proposal was expected after press time on Wednesday.Current Department of Defense policy excludes women in the military from joining units below the brigade level where “the primary mission of which is to engage in direct ground combat.”

In a letter to lawmakers last week, Army Secretary Francis Harvey and Army vice chief of staff Gen. Richard A. Cody said closing those combat support jobs to women could create confusion among the ranks and possibly jeopardize force readiness.

Supporters of that provision said only 31 women currently serve in those combat support units, making its impact relatively small. But an Army analysis provided to lawmakers this week stated the proposal would close at least 21,925 jobs to female soldiers.

“Women have performed admirably in the war on terror,” said Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo., ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee.

“To change the way they are treated goes to the very heart of our national security.”

Army officials said they are already reviewing their rules regarding women in combat, and they have urged lawmakers not to act until that review is complete. The new proposal requires defense officials, within a year, to issue a report on what assignments the four services have opened to women since 1994.

In response to the Army ban proposal, officials from the Marines Corps’ Manpower Military Policy Branch said they have not begun any such review of their policies.

“Existing Marine Corps policy is based upon, and consistent with, Department of Defense policy,” said spokeswoman Lt. Col. Christina McCloskey.

“We feel that current policy is adequate.”

If passed by the House committee, the ban still would have to be approved by the full House and Senate and signed by President Bush before it could become law.