{"bills":[{"photos":{"featured":"https://assets.causes.com/bill/photo/hr1111-114/featured_department-of-peacebuilding-act-of-2015-1454547970.jpg","featured_large":"https://assets.causes.com/bill/photo/hr1111-114/featured_large_department-of-peacebuilding-act-of-2015-1454547970.jpg","shareable":"https://n.causes.com/share-images/bills/hr1111-114.png"},"introduced_on":"2015-02-26","title_override":"Does the U.S. Need a Department of Peacebuilding?","summary_override":"

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.

","official_title":"To establish a Department of Peacebuilding.","short_title":"Department of Peacebuilding Act of 2015","popular_title":null,"short_summary":"Department of Peacebuilding Act of 2015\n\nEstablishes a Department of Peacebuilding in the executive branch, to be headed by a Secretary of Peacebuilding, dedicated to peacebuilding, peacemaking, and the study and promotion of conditions conducive to both domestic and international peace and a culture of peace.\n\nSets forth the mission of the Department, which includes the: (1) cultivation of peace and peacebuilding as a strategic national policy objective; and (2) development of policies that promote national and international conflict prevention, nonviolent intervention, mediation, peaceful conflict resolution, and structured conflict mediation.\n\nEstablishes in the Department: (1) the Office of Peace Education and Training, (2) the Office of Domestic Peacebuilding Activities, (3) the Office of International Peacebuilding Activities, (4) the Office of Technology for Peace, (5) the Office of Arms Control and Disarmament, (6) the Office of Peacebuilding Information and Research, (7) the Of...","summarized":true,"cost":null,"cost_commentary":"A CBO cost estimate is unavailable. ","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.","argument_for":"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_against":"Ever heard of the State Department? Or the Department of Defense? 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Does the U.S. Need a Department of Peacebuilding?