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Crucial Communism Teaching Act

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Crucial Communism Teaching Act
Great Seal of the United States
Long titleTo develop and disseminate a civic education curriculum and oral history resources regarding certain political ideologies, and for other purposes.
Announced inthe 118th United States Congress
Number of co-sponsors33
Legislative history

The Crucial Communism Teaching Act is a proposed United States law that would develop a high school curriculum with the purpose of teaching students about the history and dangers of communism.[1][2] Introduced by Representative Salazar (R–FL) in the 118th Congress, the bill has passed the House by a vote of 327 - 62 on December 6, 2024.[3]

Critics of the bill say that it oversimplifies the history of communism and overlooks the history of anti-communism in the United States.[4][5]

Background

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Public opinion polls during the late 2010s and early 2020s found increasing support for communism in Americans, particularly among younger generations.[6][7] Some conservatives have attributed this uptick to insufficient education about communist regimes, while some on the left attribute it to dissatisfaction with government and economic conditions.[8][9][10][11]

In 2021, Governor Ron DeSantis (R–FL) signed into law a bill promoting the teaching of anti-communist lessons in Florida schools,[12] and in February, 2024, signed SB1264, requiring the teaching of the "atrocities" and "increasing threat[s]" of communism in Florida public schools from kindergarten to 12th grade.[13] Similar bills have also been introduced in Arizona and the U.S. Congress.[14][15][16] The framework of the Crucial Communism Teaching Act was modeled after that of the Never Again Education Act which allows for the creation of educational resources regarding the Holocaust.[17]

Provisions

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The bill asks that the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation creates educational resources to promote the teaching of some of the impacts of communism throughout recent history.[1] It aims to ensure that high school students learn that, among other things, "communism has led to the deaths of over 100 million victims worldwide", and that "1.5 billion people still suffer under communism."[1] It additionally asks that students learn of the actions of regimes such as that of the People's Republic of China against the Uyghurs, and antidemocratic efforts in places such as Hong Kong.

Controversy

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Representative Bobby Scott (D-VA) said of the bill that, while there is value in teaching about totalitarian regimes, the manner in which the bill does this is not comprehensive and could lead to greater politicization in education.[5] Others see the bill as being intended to spread anti-communist ideology, reminiscent of the McCarthy era.[4][18]

Legislative history

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As of December 16, 2024:

Congress Short title Bill number(s) Date introduced Sponsor(s) # of cosponsors Latest status
118th Congress Crucial Communism Teaching Act H.R. 5349 September 5, 2024 Maria Elvira Salazar

(R-FL)

33 Passed House

References

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  1. ^ a b c Rep. Salazar, Maria Elvira [R-FL-27 (2024-12-09). "Text - H.R.5349 - 118th Congress (2023-2024): Crucial Communism Teaching Act". www.congress.gov. Retrieved 2024-12-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ "House Pushes Back on Communist Influence in American Schools". Committee on Education & the Workforce. 2024-12-06. Retrieved 2024-12-16.
  3. ^ "Roll Call 492 Roll Call 492, Bill Number: H. R. 5349, 118th Congress, 2nd Session". Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. 2024-12-06. Archived from the original on 2024-12-10. Retrieved 2024-12-16.
  4. ^ a b Hurowitz, Noah (2024-12-05). "Just Say No: Congress Considers Neocon Lesson Plans to Keep Kids Off Communism". The Intercept. Retrieved 2024-12-16.
  5. ^ a b "Ranking Member Scott Speaks On Crucial Communism Teaching Act | Education & The Workforce Committee Democrats". democrats-edworkforce.house.gov. Retrieved 2024-12-16.
  6. ^ "More than a third of millennials approve of communism, YouGov poll indicates". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2024-10-07. Retrieved 2024-12-16.
  7. ^ "2020 Poll". Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation. Retrieved 2024-12-16.
  8. ^ Johnson, Rev Ben (2020-10-23). "Half of Gen Z supports Marxism/socialism. Here's why". Religion & Liberty Online. Retrieved 2024-12-16.
  9. ^ Abodo, Sam (2021-07-20). "Why do so many young people like communism? - Washington Examiner". Retrieved 2024-12-16.
  10. ^ Sanders, Sam (November 21, 2015). "Why Do Young People Like Socialism More Than Older People Do?". NPR. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  11. ^ "Congress Revives Cold War Tactics With New Anti-Communism School Curriculum". Scheerpost. Retrieved December 17, 2024. Congress has just passed a new bill that will see the U.S. spend huge sums of money redesigning much of the public school system around the ideology of anti-communism. The "Crucial Communism Teaching Act" is now being read in the Senate, where it is all but certain to pass. The move comes amid growing public anger at the economic system and increased public support for socialism.
  12. ^ Galbraith, Alex. "Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signs bills promoting anti-communist lessons in schools, 'intellectual freedom' on campus". Orlando Weekly. Retrieved 2024-12-16.
  13. ^ "Gov. DeSantis signs law requiring anti-communist teachings in K-12". mynews13.com. Retrieved 2024-12-16.
  14. ^ https://www.azleg.gov/press/house/56LEG/2R/240222TOMAHB2629.pdf
  15. ^ Rep. Banks, Jim [R-IN-3 (2021-09-03). "Text - H.R.4792 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): Countering Communist China Act". www.congress.gov. Retrieved 2024-12-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  16. ^ Camacho, Juliana (2024-07-31). "Rubio Introduces Bills Countering Communist China's Influence". Senator Rubio. Retrieved 2024-12-16.
  17. ^ "CONGRESSWOMAN SALAZAR INTRODUCES THE CRUCIAL COMMUNISM TEACHING (CCT) ACT". Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation. 2021-12-02. Retrieved 2024-12-16.
  18. ^ "House Overwhelmingly Passes 'Crucial Communism Teaching Act'". The Epoch Times. 2024-12-06. Retrieved 2024-12-16.
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