United States Department of Peace
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The United States Department of Peace is a proposed cabinet level department of the executive branch of the U.S. government. The original idea of a Peace Department in the United States dates back to the administration of George Washington, but has been most recently proposed by Rep. Dennis Kucinich in 2001 and formed a part of Kucinich's presidential campaign platform in 2004.
The US Department of Peace is also an independent grassrooots political movement that operates autonomously and that has continued to gain momentum after Kucinich's bid in the 2004 presidential election. The ongoing movement is co-led by both Kucinich, and the inspirational speaker Marianne Williamson. This movement actively lobbies for the endorsements of congressional leaders. It has local grassroot chapters in over 200 congressional districts, and to date over 50 congressmen have lent their official endorsements to this bill.
George Washington, the first U.S. President, proposed a Department of Peace to the United States Congress in 1793; its proponents included Benjamin Banneker, Benjamin Rush, and Thomas Jefferson.
In July 2001, Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich introduced Department of Peace legislation to Congress; the September 11 attacks several months later put the idea on hold.
Kucinich proposed a Peace Department again (House Resolution 1673) in April 2003; the legislation then gained over 30 co-sponsors and was endorsed by groups including Amnesty International and the National Organization for Women. Highlights of the legislation include tying the budget of the department to a fixed percentage of the budget of the Defense Department and creating a "Peace Academy" parallel to the U.S. military academies.
Kucinich continues to energetically promote and lobby for this legislation. Williamson sometimes makes comparisons between this movement and the anti-slavery Abolition movement, or to the Woman's Suffrage movement as a demonstration of her belief of both the worthiness of this goal, and of her belief that due to its worthiness, it cannot do anything other than to eventually pass in congress.
See also
External links
- The Peace Alliance Movement Intro Clip/ Website (http://www.thepeacealliance.org/your_moment.html)
- Dennis Kucinich's Personal Site Discussing this legislation (http://www.kucinich.us/issues/departmentpeace.php)
- Marianne Williamson's Personal Intro and Link to the Peace Alliance (http://marianne.iamplify.com/citizenship.jsp)