Building Civic Bridges Act

Bill Number

H.R. 4329

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Labor and Employment

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-07-10: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Last Updated

2026-04-14T08:05:35Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The "Building Civic Bridges Act" (H.R. 4329) aims to promote "civic bridgebuilding," which involves activities grounded in scientific research to foster respect among diverse communities, reduce social and political divisions (polarization), build a shared sense of purpose, and address public needs like education, health care, or public safety. It seeks to strengthen social cohesion in the U.S. by creating structures within the existing national service framework to support these efforts.

Key Provisions

• Establishment of the Office of Civic Bridgebuilding: Creates a new office within the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS, a federal agency that oversees volunteer and community service programs). The office is led by an Officer of Civic Bridgebuilding, appointed by the CNCS Chief Executive Officer.

• Duties of the Office:
• Administer a pilot grant program (detailed below) with standardized criteria to measure project effectiveness, based on scientific research and stakeholder input.
• Provide training in civic bridgebuilding skills to participants in national service programs (e.g., AmeriCorps) and, upon request, to funded organizations.
• Support research, evaluations, and information sharing on civic bridgebuilding, including collaborations with other CNCS offices, federal agencies (e.g., Department of Justice's Community Relations Service, U.S. Agency for International Development, U.S. Institute of Peace), and creating a public collection of research publications on polarization and cohesion.
• Foster public dialogue by convening programs, offering resources, networking, and collaboration to refine best practices.

• Consultation Process: The Officer must consult diverse experts from the "civic bridgebuilding field" (including nonprofits, researchers, state commissions, and federal agencies) representing varied ideological, religious, racial, ethnic, and regional perspectives. This input shapes priorities, criteria, research, best practices, and grant administration.

• Civic Bridgebuilding Pilot Grant Program:
• A 3-year pilot (potentially renewable) awarding competitive 1-year grants in three cycles per period to "eligible entities" (nonprofits, faith-based or community organizations, colleges/universities, public institutions like libraries or local governments, or consortia of these).
• Grants fund projects that engage divided communities, promote cohesion, address polarization's root causes, and tackle public concerns (e.g., human needs, environmental issues).
• Applications require descriptions of the project, how it builds bridges across divides, research-backed approaches, safety measures (especially for marginalized groups), and agreement to report outcomes using standardized criteria.
• Funds must advance civic bridgebuilding in local communities or at a broader field level (e.g., sharing best practices).

• Definitions:
• Civic bridgebuilding: Research-based activities that build empathy, reduce conflict, enhance belonging, and address public needs; includes local community efforts and field-wide collaboration among leaders.
• Civic engagement: Individual or group actions to solve public issues.
• Research base: Publications analyzing polarization and ways to improve intergroup relations.

• Oversight and Funding:
• The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) must report to Congress on the program's effectiveness 18 months after each 3-year period.
• No new federal funding is authorized; all activities use donated funds under existing CNCS authorities.

• Technical Update: Amends the table of contents in the National and Community Service Act of 1990 to include the new office and part.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill amends the National and Community Service Act of 1990 by adding a new Part VI ("Civic Bridgebuilding") to Subtitle H of Title I. It introduces the first dedicated federal office and pilot grant program focused on reducing polarization through evidence-based community service, expanding CNCS's role beyond traditional volunteering to include bridgebuilding training, research dissemination, and interagency collaboration. Previously, CNCS supported general civic engagement but lacked specific mechanisms for addressing division.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: Enhances CNCS's capacity to coordinate with other federal entities (e.g., Justice Department for conflict resolution, international agencies for global insights), potentially streamlining efforts on social cohesion without increasing budgets. Requires donated funding, which may limit scale but encourages private support.

• On Citizens and Communities: Could improve local social ties by funding projects that bring divided groups together, addressing needs like health or safety while building empathy. Benefits participants in service programs through new training, and marginalized communities via safety-focused requirements, potentially reducing conflict and enhancing well-being.

• On International Relations: Indirectly supports U.S. soft power by drawing on international research and collaborations (e.g., with USAID), promoting models of cohesion that could inform global democracy efforts, though the focus is domestic.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• CNCS and Federal Agencies: Primary implementers, including CNCS staff, the Officer, and partners like the Department of Justice, USAID, and U.S. Institute of Peace.
• Nonprofits and Community Organizations: Eligible for grants and training; includes faith-based groups, local leaders, and consortia driving projects.
• Educational Institutions: Colleges and public institutions (e.g., libraries) can apply for funding and participate in research.
• Researchers and Civic Leaders: Involved in consultations, research collection, and best practices; represent diverse backgrounds to ensure broad input.
• Communities and Service Participants: End beneficiaries, especially in polarized or underserved areas, including national service volunteers (e.g., AmeriCorps members).
• State and Local Governments: Service commissions and public units may receive or support grants.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Relies on existing CNCS donation authorities, avoiding new appropriations and potential budget disputes. Emphasizes scientific research and standardized evaluations, promoting accountability without mandating outcomes. Grant safety assurances protect participants' rights, aligning with civil rights standards.

• Constitutional: Supports First Amendment values by encouraging free public conversation and assembly for cohesion, without restricting speech. Promotes equal protection by requiring diverse consultations and safety for marginalized groups, potentially advancing inclusive civic participation.

• Political: Bipartisan introduction (by representatives from both parties) signals cross-aisle appeal in addressing polarization. As a pilot, it allows testing without long-term commitment, but GAO reporting ensures congressional oversight. No new spending mitigates fiscal concerns, though reliance on donations could introduce variability in implementation.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6]

Cosponsors (22)

Rep. Barr, Andy [R-KY-6], Rep. McBath, Lucy [D-GA-6], Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-15], Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24], Rep. Kim, Young [R-CA-40], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Moore, Blake D. [R-UT-1], Rep. Timmons, William R. [R-SC-4], Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49], Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1], Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10], Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50], Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10], Rep. Goodlander, Maggie [D-NH-2], Rep. Morrison, Kelly [D-MN-3], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1], Rep. Nunn, Zachary [R-IA-3], Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8], Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2]

Recent Actions

• 2025-07-10: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
• 2025-07-10: Introduced in House
• 2025-07-10: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Building Civic Bridges Act — issued 2025-07-10 — PDF (12 pages)