BUILDING CIVIC BRIDGES ACT

The Building Civic Bridges Act (H.R. 6843) was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on February 25, 2022, by Representative Derek Kilmer (D-WA). The bill was co-sponsored by twelve Republicans and twelve Democrats. [Sponsors list below] It was introduced in the Senate on July 14, 2022 by Christopher Coons (D-DE) as SB4530 and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

The bill would establish an Office of Civic Bridgebuilding within AmeriCorps, a federal volunteer program. The office would be responsible for administering a grant program to support civic bridgebuilding programs across the nation. These programs would work to build relationships across lines of difference, such as political affiliation, race, ethnicity, and religion.

The bill also would support the training of AmeriCorps members in civic bridgebuilding skills and techniques. Additionally, the bill would support research on civic bridgebuilding, civic engagement, and social cohesion.

The Building Civic Bridges Act was referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor. The committee held a hearing on the bill on March 8, 2022. The bill has not been further considered by the committee.

The Building Civic Bridges Act was not enacted into law during the 117 th Congress and is expected to be re-introduced in the House and the Senate in September 2023.

Co-Sponsors of the Building Civic Bridges Act, as introduced February 25, 2022:

Rep. Bacon, Don [Rep/NE-2]
Rep. Case, Ed [Dem/HI-1]
Rep. Barr, Andy [Rep/KY-6]
Rep. Courtney, Joe [Dem/CT-2]
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [Rep/PA-1]
Rep. Craig, Angie [Dem/MN-2]
Rep. Joyce, David P. [Rep/OH-14]
Rep. Deutch, Theodore E. [Dem/FL-22]
Rep. Katko, John [Rep/NY-24]
Rep. Dingell, Debbie [Dem/MI-12]
Rep. Kim, Young [Rep/CA-39]
Rep. Jeffries, Hakeem S. [Dem/NY-8]
Rep. McKinley, David B.
Rep/WV-1] Rep. Kilmer, Derek [Dem/WA-6]
Rep. Reed, Tom [Rep/NY-23]
Rep. Levin, Mike [Dem/CA-49]
Rep. Thompson, Glenn [Rep/PA-15]
Rep. McBath, Lucy [Dem/GA-6]
Rep. Timmons, William R. IV
[Rep/SC-4] Rep. Murphy, Stephanie N. [Dem/FL-7]
Rep. Upton, Fred [Rep/MI-6]
Rep. Phillips, Dean [Dem/MN-3]
RC González-Colón, Jenniffer [Rep/PR-At Large]
Rep. Trahan, Lori [Dem/MA-3]

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The Building Civic Bridges Act (BCBA)

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Official Bill from the 117th Congress here.

Official statement from Rep. Derek Kilmer’s office here.

Loren is a spiritual psychologist and a practitioner of Non-Violent Communication, Marshall Rosenberg’s game-changing work on interpersonal dialogue and conflict resolution.

Josie is a psychotherapist in private practice with over 40 years of experience. With a focus on the whole person, Josie helps families, couples, and individuals improve communication, connection, and increase mindfulness through self-awareness.

A pioneer in the field of complementary medicine, Kathleen co-founded the first acupuncture clinic in the United States, at UCLA. With her co-founder, Dr. Steven Rosenblatt, she founded the first five acupuncture schools in the US, known today as the New England School of Acupuncture and the California Acupuncture College. She is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, an Integrative Medicine Consultant, a PTSD and Depression Specialist, holds a Ph.D. in metaphysical French and Spanish Literature from the University of Connecticut, and is a sought-after global lecturer on wellness and alternative therapies. In addition to her private practice, Kathleen is Director of Community Outreach for the Earth Harmony Foundation, author of Rene Daumal: The Life & Work of a Mystic Guide, and creator of the ground-breaking Cellular Meditation CD-series for Veterans and other PTSD survivors, funded by Graham Nash.

Julie co-facilitates the MLK Coalition of Greater Los Angeles, the Topanga Peace Alliance, and has served as the Executive Director for both the Citizens Advice Bureau in NYC, and the Coalition for Community Health in Los Angeles. Julie is a social worker devoted to improving the lives of low-income families and children, having worked with city and county governments to better integrate services and improve outcomes for abused children, high-risk families, homeless persons, and other vulnerable populations.

Kathleen has served as environmental consultant to the U.S. Defense Department on their Defense and Environment Initiative. In partnership with the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), Kathleen coordinated the “What’s Working in the World” program for the First Earth Run, an initiative that engaged twenty-five million people and 45 heads of state in 62 countries. Kathleen went on to work with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), creating the first-ever Personal Action Guide, which was translated into seven languages. She is the founding director of the Southern California Council on Environment and Development (SCCED), and founder of Topanga Canyon’s most iconic bookstore, Bridge Building Books

Angela is founder of IMBUE Symposium, a philanthropic program designed to inspire, educate, and motivate students as they matriculate from school to a professional career. She is a seasoned expert in broadcast media, public relations, branding, sports, and entertainment, having worked both with entertainers and athletes as a representative/strategist; and with professional sports organizations in broadcasting, marketing, and print journalism. Angela has authored research on the National Football League (NFL), National Basketball Association (NBA), and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

Susan is co-founder of SettlementWorks, a mediation practice in Marina del Rey, CA. As a family lawyer and mediator, she supports couples, families, partnerships, and groups in resolving disagreements amicably, restoring harmony to their relationships. Susan is the creator of Dynamic Family Resolution, a process that allows families to make decisions for themselves during mediation, rather than resorting to litigation. Susan has served as court-appointed attorney for the Kenyon Juvenile Justice Center in South Central Los Angeles. There, she represented minors in court proceedings while also working with families and liaison officers to create the best situation for each child. Susan holds a Juris Doctorate from Loyola Law School and a Bachelor of Arts in Law and Society from the University of California, Santa Barbara. 

Kara Revel Jarzynski is the Executive Director of Resolutionaries, an organization dedicated to bringing Americans together through safe, facilitated conversation. Formerly a facilitator for Fortune 500 companies, Kara turned to bridgebuilding after the birth of her twins. Never had talking less and listening more felt more important.

In 2022, Dennis Cohen approached Kara with the idea of championing bridgebuilding on a national scale – through a bipartisan bill in Congress called The Building Civic Bridges Act. Inspired by the possibility of fostering civility and respect in the national dialogue, Kara began, with the advent of the 118th Congress, to spearhead Resolutionaries.

Also a published writer, Kara has won awards from the National Society of Arts and Letters; and, with writing partner Sherry Bokser, was named a US delegate to the Women Playwrights International Conference (WPIC) in Mumbai, India. She holds a certificate from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, a BA from Queens University of Charlotte, and a Master's degree from the University of California, Los Angeles.

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