The House of Representatives on Friday passed a bill with bipartisan support that seeks to help educate America's youth about the dangers of communism.
The bill, which was first introduced by Florida GOP Rep. Maria Salazar in 2021, passed in a 327-62 vote.
The bill gives high school educators access to materials from the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation that help educate students about the dangers of communism and totalitarianism, which the House Education and the Workforce Committee touted as contrary to the U.S.'s "founding principles of freedom and democracy."
The legislation comes after a 2020 survey found that 28% of Generation Z have a favorable view of communism, and 18% believe it to be a fairer system than capitalism, according to the committee.
“It’s not a radical idea to say that American values should be taught in American schools," Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx said in a statement. "But at a time when nearly a third of Gen Z are in favor of communism, it’s clear that we’re falling short when it comes to educating young people about the history and dangers of that ideology."
Foxx added the new act is a good stepping stone in making sure that younger generations "have the tools and knowledge to protect capitalism and freedom for the next generation."
House Speaker Mike Johnson also praised the passage in a statement, claiming it was important to push back on communism because of the growing threat from China.
“Communism has a long, dark history of political suppression, persecution, and violence. Unfortunately, the realities of communism are often overlooked or downplayed in our educational system, allowing malign foreign actors to push their agendas and influence American institutions," Johnson said.
"It is more important than ever that our students are taught the true dangers of communism and the importance of safeguarding our freedoms," he added.
