The U.S. House of Representatives acted to combat the influence of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) on American schools on Wednesday, passing a bill that would pull federal funding from schools that accept money from the Chinese government.
Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) joined 175 other Democrats in opposing the Republican-led bill from Rep. David Joyce (R-Ohio).
“China also uses informational warfare and it would love to influence what American students learn in classrooms from kindergarten through college. The CCP uses our free and open society against us, bankrolling civil organizations with nice sounding names to sponsor exchange programs and curriculums that hide the truth about China,” said House Select Committee on China Chairman Rep. John Moolenaar (R-Mich.).
“The CCP does not want Americans to learn about the horrific Cultural Revolution, in their history classes. It does not want young Americans to know that it slaughtered innocent students at Tianamen Square,” he added.
During his floor speech, Moolenaar highlighted China’s efforts to influence the U.S. and pointed to a specific example where a Maryland school sent 31 exchange students to China under a program funded by the CCP.
Under the bill, the Combating the Lies of Authoritarians in School Systems Act or “CLASS Act,” public primary and secondary schools would be barred from receiving federal funds if they accept money or enter into any contracts with the CCP or individuals or entities operating on its behalf.
Schools would also be required to disclose any and all payments from or contracts with foreign sources worth over $10,000 to the U.S. Department of Education. The schools must also disclose any terms or conditions attached to those contracts.
The seemingly common-sense push to prevent the Communist government of an officially designated foreign adversary from influencing U.S. children drew opposition from the vast majority of Democrats in the House, including Rep. Pingree.
Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine), who is set to retire from Congress after finishing his current term, was one of just 30 Democratic lawmakers to vote in favor of the bill, ultimately leading to its passage with a final roll call of 242-176.
The House voted to pass two other, extremely similar bills on Thursday, aimed at accomplishing the same thing. Both of those bills passed with broad opposition from Democrats, including Pingree, but with support from Rep. Golden.
