Washington, D.C.- Florida Representative Maria-Elvira Salazar (R) has reintroduced the Crucial Communism Teaching Act (CCT).
H.B. 5349 would create high-school curricula covering the impact of political ideologies such as communism and totalitarianism.
The act builds off of similar state-led initiatives to educate students on the horrors perpetrated by communist and totalitarian states throughout history.
“Communism is one of the most destructive political ideologies the world has ever seen,” said Rep. Salazar. “The Crucial Communism Teaching Act is important because our youth must remember the crimes of the communists, including those inflicted upon my constituents and their families in Florida’s 27th district.”
Creating said curricula would be delegated to the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation (VOC).
VOC was created in 1993 by a unanimous Act of Congress as an educational, research, and human rights nonprofit commemorating the hundreds of millions of victims of communist governments.
Salazar’s act is supported by a broad group of republican cosponsors. Among them is Representative Michelle Steel, who, as a descendant of Korean refugees who fled communism, staunchly supports Salazar’s bill.
“One way we can protect democracy is by ensuring we never forget the millions of people who lost their lives or their loved ones to the evil of Communism. Through this legislation I am proud to help not only preserve their memory, but the American Dream,” said Rep. Michelle Steel.
This is Salazar’s second time introducing the bill, as the first bill died without a hearing opportunity.
Salazar first attempted to pass the CCT Act during a Democrat-led House. Now that Republicans have regained control, Salazar’s second attempt may face a brighter future.
