ICYMI: Senator Cruz Joins Congressman Bean in Introducing TRACE Act in the Senate

WASHINGTON—In June, U.S. Congressman Aaron Bean (FL-04) introduced the Transparency in Reporting of Adversarial Contributions to Education Act (TRACE Act) to solidify the rights of parents to know how foreign funding is impacting their child’s classroom and add a layer of deterrence to keep foreign nations from reaching America’s youth. Recently, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) introduced companion legislation in the Senate.

Upon the Senate introduction, Congressman Bean said, “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.”

Senator Cruz said, “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.

BACKGROUND:

The TRACE Act will:

• Require schools to allow parents the opportunity to review any curriculum that has been provided by or purchased with foreign funds.
• Require that schools notify parents of any foreign contracts or financial transactions they partake in.
• Stipulate that parents be notified of how many school employees, if any, are being compensated by another country or foreign adversary and whether foreign nations have donated to the institution.

The TRACE Act, which has already passed in the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, builds upon H.R. 5, the Parents Bill of Rights that passed the House in 2023. 

This legislation is supported by Parents Defending Education Action and Concerned Women for America.

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