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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4329 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4329
To amend the National and Community Service Act of 1990 to establish an
Office of Civic Bridgebuilding within the Corporation for National and
Community Service, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 10, 2025
Ms. Houlahan (for herself, Mr. Barr, Mrs. McBath, Mr. Thompson of
Pennsylvania, Mr. Carbajal, Mrs. Kim, Mr. Fitzpatrick, and Mr. Moore of
Utah) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Education and Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the National and Community Service Act of 1990 to establish an
Office of Civic Bridgebuilding within the Corporation for National and
Community Service, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Building Civic Bridges Act''.
SEC. 2. CIVIC BRIDGEBUILDING.
Subtitle H of title I of the National and Community Service Act of
1990 (42 U.S.C. 12653 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``PART VI--CIVIC BRIDGEBUILDING
``SEC. 198T. OFFICE OF CIVIC BRIDGEBUILDING.
``(a) Establishment.--There shall be in the Corporation an Office
of Civic Bridgebuilding (in this section referred to as the `Office').
The Office shall be headed by an Officer of Civic Bridgebuilding, who
shall be designated by the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to section
195(b).
``(b) Duties.--The Officer of Civic Bridgebuilding shall carry out
each of the following:
``(1) Administer the grant program described in subsection
(d) to support civic bridgebuilding across the United States,
including by establishing standardized criteria (based on
principles of scientific research and input through the
consultation process under subsection (c)) to track the
effectiveness of projects and activities funded under such
program.
``(2) Support the Corporation in providing training in
skills and techniques relevant to civic bridgebuilding (based
on principles of scientific research and input through the
consultation process under subsection (c))--
``(A) for participants (including individuals who
have been selected to be participants) of a program
receiving funding under the authority of the national
service laws; and
``(B) upon request by an organization that receives
funding under the authority of the national service
laws or that is carrying out a program in which
participants described in subparagraph (A) are
participating, for such organization.
``(3) Support research and evaluations on civic
bridgebuilding and the dissemination of related information,
including through--
``(A) evaluation and oversight of the grant program
described in subsection (d);
``(B) as the Corporation determines necessary,
collaboration (including through the evaluation of the
activities of the Corporation relating to civic
bridgebuilding and civic engagement) between the Office
and--
``(i) other offices (such as the Office of
Research and Evaluation), teams, or individuals
within the Corporation; and
``(ii) other Federal agencies, including
the Community Relations Service of the
Department of Justice, the United States Agency
for International Development, and the United
States Institute of Peace; and
``(C) the establishment of a publicly available
collection of publications for a research base for the
purpose of assembling research focused on evaluating
the extent to which civic bridgebuilding and civic
engagement activities strengthen or weaken other civic
bridgebuilding and civic engagement activities and
outcomes in the United States.
``(4) Activate and sustain a public conversation about the
importance of civic bridgebuilding by convening and
coordinating civic bridgebuilding programs and providing
resources, networking, and collaboration opportunities to
individuals and entities in the civic bridgebuilding field for
the purpose of disseminating and refining best practices based
on principles of scientific research and input through the
consultation process under subsection (c).
``(c) Consultation Process.--
``(1) In general.--In carrying out the duties under this
section, the Officer of Civic Bridgebuilding shall consult with
members of the civic bridgebuilding field, including for
purposes of--
``(A) identifying strategic priorities for the
Office;
``(B) developing the standardized criteria required
under subsection (b)(1);
``(C) supporting the development and dissemination
of research under subsection (b)(3);
``(D) developing best practices for civic
bridgebuilding under subsection (b)(4); and
``(E) administering the grant program described in
subsection (d).
``(2) Diversity in consultation.--In carrying out the
consultation under paragraph (1), the Officer of Civic
Bridgebuilding shall consult members of the civic
bridgebuilding field who represent diverse ideological,
religious, racial, regional, professional, or ethnic
communities, including such members--
``(A) who represent eligible entities engaged in
civic bridgebuilding;
``(B) who represent existing or potential programs
and grantees receiving funding under the authority of
the national service laws, including State Service
Commissions;
``(C) who are researchers producing work based on
principles of scientific research related to civic
bridgebuilding in the United States and
internationally; and
``(D) who represent other Federal agencies or
public institutions engaged in or supporting work
related to civic bridgebuilding in the United States
and internationally, such as--
``(i) the Community Relations Service of
the Department of Justice;
``(ii) the United States Agency for
International Development; and
``(iii) the United States Institute of
Peace.
``(d) Civic Bridgebuilding Pilot Grant Program.--
``(1) In general.--The Corporation (acting through the
Officer of Civic Bridgebuilding with input through the
consultation process under subsection (c))--
``(A) shall carry out a pilot program for a 3-year
period to award grants, on a competitive basis, to
eligible entities to support civic bridgebuilding
programs across the United States for purposes of--
``(i) reducing conflict and improving
social cohesion; and
``(ii) addressing a public concern such as
unmet human, educational, health care,
environmental, or public safety needs; and
``(B) may carry out such a pilot program for
additional 3-year periods.
``(2) Grant period.--A grant awarded under this subsection
shall be for a 1-year period. Grants shall be awarded under
this subsection in 3 grant cycles for each 3-year period of the
pilot program carried out under paragraph (1).
``(3) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under
this subsection, an eligible entity shall submit an application
to the Corporation at such time, in such manner, and containing
such information and assurances as the Corporation may require,
including--
``(A) a description of the project that will be
funded with the grant;
``(B) an explanation of how that such project
will--
``(i) engage communities across lines of
polarization;
``(ii) facilitate the establishment or
continuation of civic bridgebuilding and social
cohesion, which may include addressing the root
causes of polarization and conflict as
described in the publicly available collection
of publications for a research base established
under subsection (b)(3)(C);
``(iii) reflect research supporting the
efficacy and impact of the proposed approach
for the project; and
``(iv) ensure physical, social, and
psychological well-being and safety for all
participants involved in the project, including
for such participants from historically
marginalized communities;
``(C) a description of best practices grounded in
principles of scientific research for how such safety
will be achieved; and
``(D) an assurance that the eligible entity will
report outcomes of such project to track effectiveness
based on standardized criteria established by the
Office of Civic Bridgebuilding under subsection (b)(1).
``(4) Uses of funds.--An eligible entity receiving a grant
under this subsection shall use the grant funds to carry out a
project to advance civic bridgebuilding in communities across
the United States.
``(e) Comptroller General.--The Comptroller General of the United
States shall, not later than 18 months after the end of the 3-year
period of the program carried out under subsection (d)(1)(A) and, as
applicable, not later than 18 months after each 3-year period of the
program carried out under subsection (d)(1)(B), submit to Congress a
report, which summarizes and assesses the effectiveness and impact of
the activities carried out under grants awarded under subsection (d).
``(f) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Civic bridgebuilding.--The term `civic
bridgebuilding'--
``(A) means an activity, grounded in principles of
scientific research, that--
``(i) fosters respect between diverse
communities;
``(ii) supports social cohesion and
diminishes polarization;
``(iii) forges a sense of common civic
purpose; and
``(iv) seeks to address a public concern
such as unmet human, educational, health care,
environmental, or public safety needs; and
``(B) includes--
``(i) activities that take place in local
communities, where individuals and institutions
come together to build empathy and social
cohesion, strengthen belonging, and address
local issues; and
``(ii) activities at the field level, where
civic bridgebuilding leaders work together to
share research and best practices, learn from
one another, and grow other civic
bridgebuilding.
``(2) Civic bridgebuilding field.--The term `civic
bridgebuilding field' means--
``(A) the programs, leaders, and community groups
involved in civic bridgebuilding activities;
``(B) researchers producing work based on
principles of scientific research related to civic
bridgebuilding in the United States and abroad; and
``(C) Federal agencies and public institutions
engaged in or supporting work related to civic
bridgebuilding in the United States and
internationally.
``(3) Civic bridgebuilding leader.--The term `civic
bridgebuilding leader' means an individual who leads civic
bridgebuilding programs or efforts.
``(4) Civic engagement.--The term `civic engagement' means
an individual or collective action designed to address a public
concern such as an unmet human, educational, health care,
environmental, or public safety need.
``(5) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means a
nonprofit entity, community- or faith-based organization,
institution of higher education (as defined in section 101(a)
of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a))),
public institution, or consortium of any such entities.
``(6) Public institution.--The term `public institution'
means a library or unit of State, local, or special purpose
government.
``(7) Research base.--The term `research base' means any
publications that contain observations, analysis, and
conclusions based on principles of scientific research with
respect to the challenges of political and social polarization
in the United States, and practical approaches to strengthen
social cohesion, foster a sense of national connection, or
improve intergroup relations in divided communities.
``(g) Funding.--No Federal funds are authorized to be made
available to carry out this section. Such section shall be carried out
exclusively using amounts donated under section 196.''.
SEC. 3. TABLE OF CONTENTS.
The table of contents in section 1(b) of the National and Community
Service Act of 1990 is amended by inserting at the end of the item
relating to subtitle H of title I, the following:
``Part VI--Civic Bridgebuilding
``Sec. 198T. Office of Civic Bridgebuilding.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
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