H. R. 1673 - ESTABLISHMENT OF A DEPARTMENT OF PEACE

Introduced by Mr. Kucinich (D-OH) on April 8, 2003
Cosponsors

This bill would establish a new Cabinet level Department of Peace, which would be dedicated to peacemaking and the study of conditions that are conducive to both domestic and international peace.

This Department of Peace would:

Have the following offices:

• Peace education and training

• Domestic peace activities

• International peace activities

• Technology for peace

• Arms control and disarmament

• Peaceful co-existence and non - violent conflict resolution

• Human rights and economic rights

• Intergovernmental advisory council on peace

Have the following mission:

• To hold peace as the organizing principle, coordinating service to every level of American society

• Endeavor to promote justice and democratic principles to expand human rights

• Strengthen non -military means of peacemaking

• Promote the development of human potential

• Work to create peace, prevent violence, divert from armed conflict, use field tested programs and develop new structures in non-violent dispute resolution

• Take a proactive, strategic approach in the development of policies that promote national and international conflict prevention, non-violent intervention, mediation, peaceful resolution of conflicts and structural mediation of conflicts

• Address matters both domestic and international in scope

• Encourage the development of initiatives from local communities, religious groups and NGOs

The international peace activities would:

• Advise the Secretaries of State and Defense on matters concerning national security, including protection of human rights, and prevention of, amelioration of and de escalation of unarmed and armed conflicts

• Provide training of all US personnel who administer post conflict reconstruction and demobilization in war torn societies

• Sponsor country and regional conflict prevention and dispute resolution initiatives; create special task force and draw on local, regional and national expertise to develop plans and programs for addressing roots sources conflict in troubled areas

• Provide exchanges between the US and other nations of individuals who endeavor to develop domestic and international peace based initiatives

• Encourage the development of international sister city programs, pairing US cities with cities around the globe for artistic, cultural, economic, educational and faith based exchanges

• Administer training of peacekeepers who participate in multinational nonviolent police forces and support civilian police who participate

• With the Secretary of the Treasury, strengthen peace enforcement through hiring and training monitors and investigators to help with the enforcement of international arms embargos

• Facilitate the development of a peace summit at which parties of conflicts may gather to promote non violent communication and a mutual beneficial solution

• Submit to the President a recommendation for reduction of weapons of mass destruction and make an annual report to the President on the sale of arms from the US to other nations with an analysis of impact on sales on defense of the US and how sales affect peace

• Consult with the Secretary of State to develop a strategy for sustainability and management of international funds

• Advise the US ambassador to the United Nations on matters pertaining to UN Security Council

This bill would move the following to the jurisdiction of the new Department of Peace:

• Peace Corps

• US Institute of Peace

• Under Secretary of Arms Control and International Security Affairs (from Dept. of State)

• Gang Resistance Education and Training program (from ATF)

• SafeFuture program office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency (from Dept of Justice)

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