Press Releases

Today, Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg (R-MI) spoke on the House Floor in support of two bills aimed at protecting our classrooms from China’s propaganda: H.R. 1005, the Combating the Lies of Authoritarians in School Systems (CLASS) Act and H.R. 1049, the Transparency in Reporting of Adversarial Contributions to Education (TRACE) Act.
 
Chairman Walberg's remarks on the CLASS Act: "[A]uthoritarian regimes, like the Chinese Communist Party, have chosen repression over freedom, indoctrinating their citizens to embrace socialism and communism—ideals fundamentally opposed to American values of liberty, freedom, and self-determination. Now, we are seeing those same authoritarian efforts reach into our classrooms…That’s why I am proud to support [the CLASS Act], from Rep. David Joyce and Rep. Michael Rulli. It’s an important piece of legislation requiring schools to disclose any funding or contracts received from foreign entities above a nominal threshold. For too long, schools have allowed foreign adversaries to funnel propaganda into classrooms—propaganda that rewrites history and undermines American values. These programs are funded and directed by the CCP’s propaganda arm, targeting children for indoctrination." Click here for Chairman Walberg’s full remarks.
 
Chairman Walberg's Remarks on the TRACE Act: "We need greater transparency in American education. In recent years, foreign governments have increasingly sought to influence our K-12 schools—not for their stated purpose of cultural exchanges or diplomacy, but to push propaganda…Over nearly two decades, the CCP has demonstrated a persistent effort to influence the minds of our children. According to a 2020 State Department report, many of these classrooms are funded and operated, in part, by the CCP’s United Front Work Department, a known overseas propaganda and influence operation. Foreign interference in our schools threatens not only student learning but also our national security. [The TRACE Act], by Rep. Aaron Bean and Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, addresses this problem by giving parents the right to review course materials funded or provided by foreign governments and entities of concern." Click here for Chairman Walberg’s full remarks.
 
BACKGROUND

H.R. 1005, the CLASS Act:

• Requires school districts to disclose within 30 days any instance of them receiving funding or entering into a contract with a foreign source. 

H.R. 1049, the TRACE Act:

• Establishes that parents have the right to know about donations, financial transactions, and classroom materials from foreign countries or foreign entities of concern.
  
• Requires schools to respond to parent requests regarding whether faculty are paid by foreign entities of concern.