The House Rules Committee is set to meet on December 3 to deliberate over H.R. 5349, also known as the ‘Crucial Communism Teaching Act.’ This bill is designed to educate middle and high school students on the dangers of communism and totalitarianism.
Representative María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) reintroduced the Crucial Communism Teaching (CCT) in the 118th Congress, aiming to educate middle and high school students about the dangers of communism and totalitarian regimes. The legislation proposes utilizing educational materials from the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation to highlight how these ideologies conflict with America’s foundational principles of freedom and democracy.
“Communism is one of the most destructive political ideologies the world has ever seen,” stated Rep. Salazar. “The Crucial Communism Teaching Act is important because our youth must remember the crimes of the communists, including those inflicted upon my constituents and their families in Florida’s 27th district.”‘
The bill outlines several key important goals including:
- To help families, civic institutions, local communities, local educational agencies, high schools, and State educational agencies to prepare high school students to be civically responsible and knowledgeable adults.
- To ensure that high school students in the United States—(A) learn that communism has led to the deaths of over 100,000,000 victims worldwide; (B) understand the dangers of communism and similar political ideologies; and (C) understand that 1,500,000,000 people still suffer under communism.
In opening statements today, Ranking Member Jim McGovern (D-MA) expressed his lack of support for the bill, noting that while it denounces communism and totalitarianism, there is not inclusion to denounce fascism. Minority member Mary Scanlon (D-PA) shared a similar sentiment in that the exclusion of fascism from such education measures is worrisome as is the lack of funding for such a program.
Key witnesses contested such remarks from Democratic leaders by explaining that H.R. 5349 would not mandate any type of education, but rather encourage teachers to share the true history and implications of government regimes classified under communism or totalitarianism. Witnesses continued to explain that such a bill would not require any funding, thus not posing any additional financial stress on the education system, as the bill would merely ensure students are made aware of the true reality of such regimes, rather than a watered-down or misrepresented story told by the CCP.
The bill draws inspiration from the Never Again Education Act, passed by Congress in 2020, which established a program to educate students about the Holocaust through resources provided by the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. Similarly, the CCT Act seeks to inform students about the historical atrocities committed under communist regimes, which have resulted in over 100 million deaths globally.
Ken Pope, CEO of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, emphasized the importance of this educational initiative: “American students deserve to know the truth: communism is not a promise for a more equitable future—it is a brutal ideology that runs counter to democracy and the very principles our nation was founded upon.”
The reintroduction of the CCT Act aligns with efforts in states like Florida, where Governor Ron DeSantis signed legislation mandating the teaching of communism’s history and dangers in public schools, starting as early as kindergarten. At the bill-signing event, DeSantis remarked, “We’re going to tell the truth about communism in the state of Florida. We’re going to tell the truth about the evils of communism.”
The CCT Act has garnered support from several lawmakers, including Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart, who stated, “By fostering this understanding, we equip our future leaders with the knowledge and wisdom necessary to safeguard the principles upon which America was founded.”
Updates will be provided as the bill makes its way through Congress.
