Bill > HR4329

This bill establishes an Office of Civic Bridgebuilding within the Corporation for National and Community Service to address social polarization and community divides. The office will administer a three-year pilot grant program that competitively awards grants to eligible entities like nonprofits, community organizations, and educational institutions to support projects that foster respect between diverse communities, reduce conflict, and improve social cohesion. The Office of Civic Bridgebuilding will be responsible for developing standardized criteria to track project effectiveness, providing training in civic bridgebuilding skills, supporting research and evaluation, and creating a publicly available research base on civic engagement strategies. The office will consult with a diverse group of stakeholders, including researchers, community leaders, and representatives from various federal agencies, to develop best practices and strategic priorities. Grant recipients must demonstrate how their projects will engage communities across polarization lines, address root causes of conflict, ensure participant safety, and reflect evidence-based approaches. The Comptroller General will be required to submit reports to Congress evaluating the program's effectiveness. Notably, the bill specifies that no federal funds will be used, and the program will be funded exclusively through donations.

Education

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4329/all-info