High Country Times

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Crucial Communism Teaching Act, a legislative measure aimed at providing educational resources to high school students about communism and totalitarian regimes. The bill was passed with a bipartisan vote of 327 to 62.

Authored by Representative Maria Salazar (R-FL), the act proposes optional educational materials through the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation. These resources are intended to educate students on how communism contrasts with American principles of freedom and democracy.

Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) expressed her support for the initiative: “It’s not a radical idea to say that American values should be taught in American schools. But at a time when nearly a third of Gen Z are in favor of communism, it’s clear that we’re falling short when it comes to educating young people about the history and dangers of that ideology.”

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) also commended the bill's passage, emphasizing its importance amid current global challenges: “Communism has a long, dark history of political suppression, persecution, and violence. Unfortunately, the realities of communism are often overlooked or downplayed in our educational system... As we face growing challenges from adversaries like the Chinese Communist Party, the Crucial Communism Teaching Act takes a stand against this dangerous trend.”

The Education and Workforce Committee had previously approved H.R. 5349 on September 14, 2023, with strong bipartisan support. The backdrop for this legislative effort includes concerns over foreign influence in American education systems through initiatives such as Confucius Classrooms linked to China's Communist Party.

Statistics have shown significant portions of younger generations hold favorable views towards communism compared to older generations. This trend highlights potential gaps in historical education regarding communist regimes.