House Votes on Bills Targeting Foreign Influence in Schools
On Thursday, over 160 House Democrats voted against two bills designed to limit foreign influence in American educational institutions.
Despite bipartisan support, Democratic leaders expressed their disapproval of both measures.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries from New York emphasized to a news outlet that the focus should be on providing a well-rounded education—for instance, enhancing skills in reading, writing, math, and critical thinking.
He added, “I’m not going to take a lecture from a group of Republicans who are trying to dismantle the Department of Education. Most of it, about 90%, is already gone.”
Jeffries accused Republicans of undermining public education, similar to their approaches toward public health and safety.
One of the proposed bills, led by House Republican Policy Committee Chairman Kevin Hahn from Oklahoma, aims to prevent federal funds from flowing to elementary and middle schools that offer programs or activities funded by the Chinese government.
This legislation would also prohibit federal funds from reaching schools that, directly or indirectly, accept support from individuals or organizations linked to the Chinese government.
The vote for this bill was 247-166, with 33 Democrats siding with the Republicans and 166 opposing the initiative.
The second bill, put forth by Florida Republican Rep. Aaron Bean, mandates that public elementary and middle schools notify parents about their ability to inquire about “foreign influence” in their children’s schools.
Notifications must be issued through the school’s Local Education Authority, the school board, or other governing bodies.
This bill also passed with a tally of 247-164, again with 33 Democrats voting in favor and 164 against.
Republicans defended these measures as practical steps to eliminate harmful foreign influence in schools. However, during the House debate, Democrats criticized them, questioning the clarity of what would be considered direct or indirect foreign influence.
Rep. Bobby Scott from Virginia raised concerns about the lack of guidance, asking whether it would lead to scrutinizing all parent donations or just those from families of Chinese American students.
