Bills
| 3.23.22

Does the U.S. Need a Department of Peacebuilding? (H.R. 1111)

Do you support or oppose this bill?

What is H.R. 1111?

(Updated October 29, 2019)

This bill would establish a Department of Peacebuilding — an independent agency of the executive branch. This department would be led by a Secretary of Peacebuilding who would be appointed by the President and approved by the Senate.

The goals of the Department of Peacebuilding would be to:

  • Cultivate peace and peacebuilding as a strategic national policy objective;

  • Reduce and prevent violence in the U.S. and internationally through peacebuilding and effective nonviolent conflict resolution;

  • Strengthen nonmilitary peacemaking;

  • Address policy matters that are both domestic and international in scope;

  • Use the growing expertise in peacebuilding to reduce the national and global epidemic of violence;

  • Support local communities in developing, funding, and expanding programs to prevent violence;

  • Consult with federal agencies on the science of peacebuilding.

Within the Department of Peacebuilding, offices dedicated to specific fields would be established, including offices for:

  • Peace Education and Training;

  • Domestic Peacebuilding Activities;

  • International Peacebuilding Activities;

  • Technology for Peace;

  • Arms Control and Disarmament;

  • Peacebuilding Information and Research;

  • Human Rights and Economic Rights;

  • Intergovernmental and Federal Interagency Advisory Councils on Peace.

The Secretary of Peacebuilding would also be responsible for establishing Peace Days for celebration.

There is not a firm number on the appropriations that would be necessary to carry out this bill, but it authorizes funding to be brought forward. Of the total appropriations, at least 85 percent must be spent on domestic peace programs — which include administrative costs.

Argument in favor

As a nation the U.S. spends hundreds of billions each year on military and policing, and proportionally less gets spent on developing ways of eliminating the need for violence in the first place. This bill will help make the world a safer place.

Argument opposed

Ever heard of the State Department? Or the Department of Defense? The U.S. already has agencies that fill these needs — the Dept. of Peacebuilding would be the most redundant agency ever created.

Impact

The to-be created Department of Peacebuilding, and programs it funds at the state, local, national, and international level. Oh yes, and of course, world peace.

Cost of H.R. 1111

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.

Additional Info

In-Depth: By sponsoring this legislation, Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) aims to combat an unacceptable “culture of violence.” She went on to add that:

“On our streets and across the globe, the pervasive presence of violence has infected the lives of millions, and it is far past time we address it as a nation. We invest hundreds of billions each year in the Pentagon, in war colleges, military academies, and our national defense universities all to develop war tactics and strategies. Now we need that kind of investment in peace and nonviolence here at home.”

An opinion piece published by U.S. News and World Report rebutted the contention that America needs a Department of Peacebuilding, observing that the U.S. already has an agency fulfilling that mission:

“It’s called the State Department. Ask anyone who works there — or ever has. They’ll tell you. It’s their professional mission to keep the United States at peace and to achieve its aims in the world peacefully.”

Media:

Summary by Eric Revell
(Photo Credit: Flickr user dying regime)