Congresswoman Salazar Introduces the Crucial Communism Teaching (CCT) Act

December 2, 2021

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Representatives María Elvira Salazar (R-FL), Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Victoria Spartz (R-IN), Lloyd Smucker (R-PA), and 58 of their House colleagues introduced H.R. 6123, the Crucial Communism Teaching (CCT) Act.

The CCT Act would make educational materials available through the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation to help educate high school students about the dangers of communism and totalitarianism, and how they are contrary to the founding principles of freedom and democracy in the United States.

The CCT Act framework is inspired by the Never Again Education Act, passed by the 116th Congress, which created an analogous program to educate American students about the Holocaust through the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.

The bill also continues similar efforts by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to educate American students on the failed experiment of communism throughout history.

"America is the freest, most prosperous country in the world. In one generation, my parents went from fleeing communist Cuba to seeing their daughter represent thousands of other exiles in the United States Congress," said Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar. "The Castro regime claims that they've created a system of equality on the island. But the only equality that communism guarantees is being equally poor, equally hungry, and equally oppressed. The Crucial Communism Teaching Act will ensure that our future generations understand the tragic and gruesome history of communism. We must do everything in our power to preserve America's founding principles of freedom, opportunity, and democracy. The fight to safeguard the American dream for generations to come starts here."

“Our nation was founded on the principle of democracy, and we should equip the next generation to be fully aware of the dangers of Communism,” Congresswoman Elise Stefanik said. “The Crucial Communism Teaching Act would foster a fuller understanding of communism to ensure our children are learning the truth. I am proud to be an American, and I want our children to share in that pride. Thank you, Congresswoman Salazar for your leadership on this issue.”

“As Winston Churchill once said, 'those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it',” Congresswoman Victoria Spartz said. “We have to remind our future generations of the millions of lives destroyed by communism around the world and the importance of being vigilant to keep our Republic free and strong.”

“Thanks to our free enterprise system, I, like so many across our nation, have been blessed with the opportunity to live my American Dream. I came to Congress to vigorously defend every American’s opportunity to work towards their own American Dream. Self-described socialists in Congress are pushing legislation to kill that opportunity and radically alter our way of life. I’m very concerned that an alarming number of younger Americans hold favorable views of communism, according to recent polling. The world knows communism is responsible for horrifying death and destruction throughout history. It is more critical than ever that we ensure our students are taught the history and the present dangers of this ideology. I appreciate Congresswoman Salazar for leading this critical legislation and am proud to join her in supporting it,” said Representative Lloyd Smucker.

List of original cosponsors:

Rep. Virginia Foxx
Rep. Carlos Gimenez
Rep. Burgess Owens
Rep. Bill Posey
Rep. Richard Hudson
Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart
Rep. Gus Bilirakis
Rep. Randy Weber
Rep. Troy Nehls
Rep. Dan Crenshaw
Rep. Michael Bost
Rep. Neal Dunn
Rep. Ronny Jackson
Rep. John Rutherford
Rep. Brian Babin
Rep. Rick Crawford
Rep. Alex Mooney
Rep. Chris Jacobs
Rep. Jim Baird
Rep. Scott Franklin
Rep. Michael Waltz
Rep. David McKinley
Rep. Byron Donalds
Rep. Greg Steube
Rep. David Schweikert
Rep. Ted Budd
Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks
Rep. Vern Buchanan
Rep. Glenn Grothman
Rep. French Hill
Rep. Madison Cawthorn
Rep. Kat Cammack
Rep. Mary Miller
Rep. Jeff Duncan
Rep. Fred Upton
Rep. Nicole Malliotakis
Rep. Rodney Davis
Rep. Louie Gohmert
Rep. Dan Bishop
Rep. Chris Smith
Rep. John Katko
Rep. Tim Burchett
Rep. Buddy Carter
Rep. Lisa McClain
Rep. August Pfluger
Rep. Jeff Van Drew
Rep. Tony Gonzales
Rep. Doug LaMalfa
Rep. Tom Cole
Rep. William Timmons
Rep. Peter Meijer
Rep. Adrian Smith
Rep. Pat Fallon
Rep. David Joyce
Rep. Michelle Steel
Rep. Tom McClintock
Rep. David Valadao
Rep. Pete Sessions

To read the full bill text, click here. To watch the press conference livestream, click here.

BACKGROUND:

Recent polling by the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation shows that the majority of young adults lack understanding of the true meaning and history of communism. As a result, communism is losing its traditional taboo. The same poll showed that 1 in 5 millennials view communism favorably, and 1 in 3 members of Gen-Z.

The Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation was founded in 1993 by a unanimous act of Congress. It is dedicated to the purpose of "educating Americans about the ideology, history, and legacy of communism."

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Issues:CongressEducation