Us Congress 2025-2026 Regular Session

Us Congress House Bill HB1069

Introduced
2/6/25  
Refer
2/6/25  

Caption

Promoting Responsible Oversight To Eliminate Communist Teachings for Our Kids Act or the PROTECT Our Kids ActThis bill prohibits federal education funding for any elementary or secondary school that directly or indirectly receives support from the Chinese government.Specifically, the bill prohibits such funding for any school that (1) has a partnership in effect with a cultural or language institute funded by the Chinese government, including a Confucius Institute; (2) operates a learning center supported by the Chinese government (commonly referred to as a Confucius Classroom); or (3) receives support from an individual or entity acting on behalf of the Chinese government, including support in the form of teaching materials, personnel, funds, or other resources. However, the Department of Education (ED) may issue a waiver of the prohibition if a school has an existing contract with one of these entities and the school demonstrates that the contract is for the benefit of the school and promotes the security, stability, and economy of the United States.The bill directs ED to provide notice of the bill's requirements to schools, as well as guidance for achieving compliance with the requirements.

Impact

If enacted, HB 1069 could significantly alter the landscape of educational partnerships in the U.S. Schools that currently collaborate with Chinese entities would likely need to sever those ties or risk losing federal funding. Additionally, schools with existing contracts may seek waivers to continue receiving support, which complicates compliance and enforcement. This bill signals a broader shift towards scrutinizing foreign funding in education, impacting how schools approach program offerings and cultural exchanges that involve international partners, particularly from nations viewed as adversaries.

Summary

House Bill 1069, also known as the 'Promoting Responsible Oversight To Eliminate Communist Teachings for Our Kids Act', seeks to prohibit federal education funding for elementary and secondary schools that receive any direct or indirect support from the Government of the People's Republic of China. The bill targets partnerships that schools may have with cultural or language institutes funded by the Chinese government, including Confucius Institutes and Confucius Classrooms. By implementing this prohibition, the bill aims to eliminate influences perceived as communist from the American education system, reflecting growing concerns about the geopolitical impact of Chinese government funding in U.S. schools.

Sentiment

The sentiment around HB 1069 appears to lean towards a protective stance for American education from foreign influence, reflecting a growing bipartisan consensus on the need for scrutiny in federal funding. Proponents argue that the bill is a necessary step to safeguard children from communist ideologies and to ensure that educational practices align with democratic values. Conversely, critics may view the legislation as an overreach that could limit valuable educational resources and opportunities for cultural exchange, thereby reducing the educational diversity that schools strive to provide.

Contention

Notable points of contention regarding the bill include concerns over the potential loss of educational programs that actively promote cultural understanding and language skills through partnerships with Chinese organizations. Critics may argue that the sweeping nature of the bill could hinder educational innovation and limit students' exposure to global perspectives. Furthermore, debates may center around the implications for academic freedom and the potential chilling effect on universities and schools considering international collaborations, raising fundamental questions about how to balance national security with educational enrichment.

Congress_id

119-HR-1069

Policy_area

Education

Introduced_date

2025-02-06

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 HB1516

DHS Restrictions on Confucius Institutes and Chinese Entities of Concern Act

US SB1121

DHS Restrictions on Confucius Institutes and Chinese Entities of Concern Act

US HB6816

PROTECT Our Kids Act Promoting Responsible Oversight To Eliminate Communist Teachings for Our Kids 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 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 HR1069

Demanding that the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Chinese Communist Party immediately release Kai Li.

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 HB201

Voluntary School Prayer Protection Act of 2023 This bill prohibits the Department of Education (ED) from providing funding for public schools that restrict voluntary school prayer. Specifically, the bill prohibits ED from providing funds to state or local educational agencies with policies that deny, or effectively prevent, individuals from voluntarily participating in public school prayer that is constitutionally protected.

US SB65

Mentoring to Succeed Act of 2023 This bill requires the Department of Education to award grants to high-need local educational agencies, high-need schools, and local governments to establish, expand, or support school-based mentoring programs that assist at-risk students in developing cognitive skills and promoting social-emotional learning to prepare them for success in high school, postsecondary education, and the workforce. Additionally, the bill directs the Institute of Education Sciences to conduct a study to identify successful school-based mentoring programs and evaluate the effectiveness of the grant program established by this bill.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.