Us Congress 2025-2026 Regular Session

Us Congress House Bill HB1005

Introduced
2/5/25  
Refer
2/5/25  

Caption

Combating the Lies of Authoritarians in School Systems Act or the CLASS ActThis bill prohibits public elementary and secondary schools, as a condition of receiving federal elementary and secondary education funds, from accepting funds from or entering into a contract with the Chinese government, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), or any individual or entity acting on behalf of the Chinese government or the CCP. The bill also requires schools to disclose funding from or contracts with a foreign source to the Department of Education.

Impact

If enacted, HB 1005 would significantly alter the operational landscape of both elementary and secondary schools across the country, imposing new requirements on them in terms of reporting foreign funding. This measure represents a clear shift in federal policy aimed at increasing scrutiny of foreign relations and influence on U.S. education. Schools receiving federal assistance will need to be vigilant about their funding sources and will incur additional bureaucratic obligations related to compliance with the new reporting requirements. The bill may push schools to seek local or national partners instead of international ones, particularly from nations that could be viewed unfavorably by U.S. policymakers.

Summary

House Bill 1005, known as the 'Combating the Lies of Authoritarians in School Systems Act' or the 'CLASS Act', seeks to prohibit public elementary and secondary schools from accepting funds or entering contracts with the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Chinese Communist Party. This legislation aims to strengthen national security and protect educational institutions from perceived foreign influence by mandating that schools disclose any foreign funding that exceeds $10,000, along with the terms of contracts with foreign sources. Schools must submit these disclosures to the Secretary of Education within 30 days of receiving such funds or entering contracts.

Sentiment

General sentiment regarding HB 1005 appears to be supportive among proponents who believe it enhances the safeguarding of public education against foreign manipulation. They argue that transparency is crucial to protect student interests and ensure that educational content aligns with American values. Conversely, critics of the bill raise concerns about implications for international collaborations, arguing that it could limit the educational opportunities for students and diminish schools' ability to innovate and access diverse resources. The debate revolves around security versus opportunity in education, reflecting broader concerns about U.S.-China relations.

Contention

Notably, the bill has sparked discussions about academic freedom and the potential chilling effect on foreign contributions to U.S. educational institutions. Opponents suggest that the bill may overreach in its prohibition, potentially hindering agreements that allow for cultural exchange and collaboration in educational advancement. Critics warn that by focusing specifically on Chinese funding, the bill may unfairly stigmatize partnerships that could provide valuable resources and insights. This tension underscores a broader dialogue about how to balance precautionary measures against foreign influence with the need for open educational engagement.

Congress_id

119-HR-1005

Policy_area

Education

Introduced_date

2025-02-05

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

US HB315

No Taxpayer Funded Platform for Chinese Communists Act This bill prohibits using federal funds made available to the U.S. Agency for Global Media to provide an open platform for representatives of the Chinese government, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), or any entity owned or controlled by the Chinese government or by the CCP.

US SB5593

A bill to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to expand the Magnet Schools Assistance Program.

US HR207

Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to prohibit Members, officers, and employees of the House from serving on the board of directors of any entity which receives funding from, or is affiliated with or owned or controlled by, the United Front Work Department of the Chinese Communist Party, any other element of the Chinese Communist Party, or any foreign adversary, and for other purposes.

US HB5567

CLASS Act Combating the Lies of Authoritarians in School Systems Act

US HB5

Parents Bill of Rights Act This bill establishes various rights of parents and guardians regarding the elementary or secondary school education of their children. Local educational agencies (LEAs) and schools must comply with the requirements of the bill in order to receive federal education funds. Specifically, the bill requires schools to notify parents and guardians of their rights regarding the education of their children. These rights include the right to review the curriculum of their child's school; know if the state alters its challenging academic standards; meet with each teacher of their child at least twice each school year; review the budget, including all revenues and expenditures, of their child's school; review a list of the books and other reading materials in the library of their child's school; address the school board of the LEA; receive information about violent activity in their child's school; and receive information about any plans to eliminate gifted and talented programs in the child's school. Additionally, the bill directs each LEA to post on a publicly accessible website (or otherwise widely disseminate to the public) the curriculum for each elementary and secondary school grade level. The LEA must also include in its annual report card the overall budget of the LEA and the budget for each elementary and secondary school. The bill also provides for additional family educational and privacy rights, including by prohibiting schools from selling student information for commercial or financial gain.

US HB65

Ending Common Core and Expanding School Choice Act This bill revises requirements related to federal education funding for disadvantaged children. Specifically, the bill (1) eliminates the standards, assessments, and academic accountability requirements for state and local educational agencies that receive federal funds for the education of disadvantaged children; (2) requires such funds to be allocated based on the number of children residing in each state who are living in poverty; and (3) allows educational agencies to distribute per-pupil amounts from such funds to parents for qualified elementary and secondary education expenses. The bill prohibits federal officers or employees from mandating academic standards, assessments, curricula, or accountability systems.

US HB3334

STOP CCP Act Sanctioning Tyrannical and Oppressive People within the Chinese Communist Party Act

US HB463

Children Have Opportunities in Classrooms Everywhere Act This bill allows tax-exempt distributions from qualified tuition programs (known as 529 plans) to be used for additional educational expenses in connection with elementary or secondary school. The bill also allows certain federal funds for elementary and secondary education to follow a student from a low-income household to the public school that the student attends or for tax-exempt educational expenses. Under current law, tax-exempt distributions in connection with elementary or secondary school are limited to tuition for a public, private, or religious school. The bill allows these distributions to be used additionally for curriculum and curricular materials, books or other instructional materials, online educational materials, tutoring or educational classes outside the home, testing fees, fees for dual enrollment in an institution of higher education, and educational therapies for students with disabilities. Distributions may also be used for tuition and the purposes above in connection with a home school (whether treated as a home school or a private school under state law). In addition, the bill directs state educational agencies to allocate grant funds to ensure the funding follows students to their public school or for other tax-exempt educational expenses outlined by the bill. Each state that carries out these allocations must establish a plan that allows the parent of an eligible child to apply for grant funds.

US HB66

Native American Education Opportunity Act This bill addresses education savings account programs and charter schools for tribal students. Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Education and the Department of the Interior, at the request of federally recognized Indian tribes, to provide funds to tribes for tribal-based education savings account programs. Tribes must use these funds to award grants to education savings accounts for students who (1) attended or will be eligible to attend a school operated by the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE); or (2) will not be attending a school operated by the BIE, receiving an education savings account from another tribe, or attending public elementary or secondary school while participating in the program. Funds may be used for items and activities such as costs of attendance at private schools, private tutoring and online learning programs, textbooks, educational software, or examination fees. The Government Accountability Office must review the implementation of these education savings account programs, including any factors impacting increased participation in such programs. Additionally, the bill authorizes the BIE to approve and fund charter schools at any school that it operates or funds.

US HB5753

To reactivate and repurpose canceling funds to deter the Chinese Communist Party before such funds are extracted from the Department of Defense on October 1, 2023.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.