Cruz Introduces TRACE Act to Boost School Transparency and Curb Foreign Influence

Shining a Light on Foreign Influence in American Classrooms

Hold onto your textbooks, folks! Senator Ted Cruz is taking aim at foreign meddling in our schools with his latest legislative haymaker. The TRACE Act isn’t just another acronym to add to your political alphabet soup; it’s a wake-up call for parents who’ve been kept in the dark about what’s really going on behind those classroom doors. With the Chinese Communist Party and other foreign adversaries eyeing our educational system like a tasty dim sum buffet, it’s high time we put on our reading glasses and took a closer look at who’s writing the curriculum. So, grab your No. 2 pencils and let’s dive into why this bill matters more than your kid’s perfect attendance record.

The TRACE Act: What’s on the Menu?

Senator Ted Cruz’s Transparency and Reporting of Academic Curriculum and Exchanges (TRACE) Act is designed to pull back the curtain on foreign influence in American schools. The bill requires educational institutions to inform parents about foreign funding and curriculum use, allowing them to review any foreign-purchased educational materials. Schools would also be required to disclose financial transactions with foreign entities and notify parents if an employee is compensated by a foreign country.

"The TRACE Act will give parents the transparency they need and deserve, and help safeguard classrooms from foreign influence”- @SenTedCruz https://t.co/yPz8SaQv5c

— Team Cruz (@TeamTedCruz) July 30, 2024

Targeting Foreign Influence, Especially the CCP

The TRACE Act takes particular aim at the Chinese Communist Party’s efforts to influence American education. Cruz and his supporters argue that the CCP has been systematically targeting U.S. schools to advance their strategic objectives.

“The Chinese Communist Party expends vast resources to control what Americans see, hear, and ultimately think. The CCP continues to target American educational institutions, as do other foreign adversaries. The TRACE Act will give parents the transparency they need and deserve, and help safeguard classrooms from foreign influence. The House has already passed this bill. I urge my Senate colleagues to take it up expeditiously and pass it.” – Sen. Ted Cruz

This concern isn’t unfounded. Lawmakers have previously held hearings on China’s influence in American schools, particularly regarding the Confucius Classrooms program, which has been criticized as a vehicle for Chinese propaganda.

Bipartisan Support and Progress

The TRACE Act isn’t just Cruz’s brainchild. A companion bill was introduced in the House by Representative Aaron Bean and has already made its way through the House Education Committee. In fact, the House has already passed the TRACE Act, putting pressure on the Senate to follow suit.

The bill has garnered support from organizations like Parents Defending Education Action and Concerned Women for America. These groups argue that the legislation is crucial for ensuring parents have the information they need to make informed decisions about their children’s education.

Sources:

“American schools are for education, not espionage. We cannot allow our students—the future of our great nation—to be corrupted by foreign adversaries who are systematically and aggressively attempting to influence our nation’s K-12 schools. That’s why it’s so important we solidify the rights of parents to know how foreign influence may be impacting their child’s classroom and take concrete steps to deter the ability of foreign nations to reach America’s youth. I want to thank Senator Cruz for joining me in this critical effort and spearheading this legislation in the Senate.” – Rep. Aaron Bean

“When parents send their children to school, they should have the peace of mind in knowing where the education funds are coming from. Unfortunately, there is alarming evidence found by our partner organization, Parents Defending Education, showing foreign nations, particularly adversaries like the Chinese Communist Party, are trying to use America’s classrooms to advance their strategic objectives at our country’s expense. We cannot allow this to happen. That is why we applaud Sen. Cruz’s leadership on introducing the Senate companion legislation to the TRACE Act to help parents have the transparency they deserve to have. America’s future is at stake.” – Michele Exner

“Parents should know what their kids are being taught in school, period, but especially if that curriculum is being funded by foreign governments. We know that China and other nations do not have America’s best interests at heart and yet are pouring millions of dollars into our education system. The TRACE Act affirms a parent’s right to know what that money is going towards.” – Penny Nance

https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sen-cruz-introduces-trace-act-to-safeguard-schools-from-foreign-adversaries

“The TRACE Act will give parents the transparency they need and deserve, and help safeguard classrooms from foreign influence. The House has already passed this bill. I urge my Senate colleagues to take it up expeditiously and pass it” – Sen. Ted Cruz