Sen. Ted Cruz is once again leading the charge to defend classrooms across America, introducing legislation aimed at rooting out hidden influences from foreign countries, especially the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
The Transparency in Reporting of Adversarial Contributions to Education (TRACE) Act, co-sponsored by Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), is asking school districts to disclose any financial connections, personnel ties, or curriculum sourced from foreign governments.
The bill would also ensure that parents are notified and given access to review any foreign-funded educational content being taught in public schools across America.
“The Chinese Communist Party spends vast resources to control what Americans see, hear, and ultimately think. Our foreign adversaries are actively targeting American educational institutions, and the TRACE Act will help protect our classrooms from foreign influence by providing parents with the transparency they deserve. I urge my colleagues to pass this legislation without delay,” Cruz said in a recent statement detailing the legislation.
The legislation is Cruz’s latest move to counter what he and others have called a coordinated effort by the CCP to infiltrate the U.S., including its public schools. The bill follows a 2023 investigation by the watchdog group Defending Education, which exposed troubling ties between America’s school districts and CCP-linked organizations like “Confucius Institutes.”
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, two Chinese nationals tied to the CCP were arrested earlier this year for smuggling a dangerous fungus into the U.S. One of the suspects was working at the University of Michigan in a science lab, and the other was working in an academic institution in China. No updates have been provided, as of the time of publication, as to why the duo was researching the highly dangerous fungus, or why it was smuggled into the U.S. in the first place. However, the arrests were a stark reminder of the CCP’s continuing infiltration into the country.
According to Cruz, the TRACE Act isn’t just about global politics; it’s about protecting children and national security.
Co-sponsor Sen. Lummis agreed, warning that CCP influence is no longer just a concern for higher education or the tech sector; it’s now reaching into classrooms meant to teach American values.
“The Chinese Communist Party has spread its influence across American life, targeting our farmland, technology, and even school systems. Parents deserve peace of mind knowing their children are learning American values, not propaganda from our foreign adversaries. This legislation prioritizes transparency while protecting our children from harmful foreign agendas,” Lumis said.
The House companion bill was introduced by Rep. Aaron Bean (R-FL), who described American schools as a target in a global ideological war.
“…It’s crucial we parents understand the potential impact of foreign influence on our children’s classrooms and take concrete steps to prevent foreign nations from reaching America’s youth,” Bean said.
Under the TRACE Act, schools would be required to:
- Disclose and allow parental review of the curriculum developed with any foreign funding
- Notify parents of any foreign contracts or donations
- Report the number of employees being paid or supported by foreign countries
The legislation has earned support from a collection of policy groups, including Parents Defending Education Action and Heritage Action. Alfonso Aguilar, a director at PDE Action, said the bill is extremely needed.
“A 2023 investigation… uncovered CCP influence in numerous public schools and school districts across the nation…The TRACE Act would ensure that parents have a full and continuous accounting of China’s meddling in their children’s education,” Aguilar added.