North Miami-Dade News

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On September 6, 2023, Rep. María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) and 27 of her colleagues reintroduced the Crucial Communism Teaching (CCT) Act (H.R. 5349) in the 118th Congress.

“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.”

The CCT Act makes educational materials available through the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation to help educate middle and high school students about the dangers of communism and totalitarianism, and how they are contrary to the founding principles of freedom and democracy in the United States.

Over 100 million people have died due to the tragic legacy of communism. However, due to a lack of accurate education materials, almost one-third of Generation-Z members have a favorable view of communism.

The CCT Act framework is inspired by the Never Again Education Act, passed by Congress in 2020, which created a program to educate American students about the Holocaust through the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.

The bill also continues similar efforts by Florida and other states to educate American students on the failed experiment of communism throughout history.

“American students deserve to know the truth: communism is not a promise for a more equitable future — it is a brutal ideology that runs counter to democracy and the very principles our nation was founded upon,” said Ken Pope, CEO of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation. “Sadly, our youth are increasingly unaware of communism’s dark legacy of more than 100 million killed and over 1.5 billion held captive to this day. The Crucial Communism Teaching Act will help to right this wrong as we work to sweep this evil ideology into the ash heap of history. Together, we can remember the victims and stand on the right side of history.”

“I am proud to cosponsor this bill, which empowers the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation to develop a civic education curriculum and oral history resources for high school students to learn about malignant, dangerous ideologies that contradict the foundational principles of American democracy. In a world where freedom, democracy, human rights, and individual liberty are under assault, it is essential that our youth understand the historical context and deadly consequences of communism which has led to the death of more than 100 million people. By fostering this understanding, we equip our future leaders with the knowledge and wisdom necessary to safeguard the principles upon which America was founded. I remain unwavering in my commitment to remember the victims of communism and ensure that future generations are aware of its grim consequences for humankind over the last century. I look forward to a future where the lessons of history guide us toward a stronger democracy,” said Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart.

“Communism is dangerous, it is evil, and our children are being lied to about its merits. We must do a better job of educating our youth so that the horrors of communism never see the light of day on U.S. soil. This is the freest country in the world, and education is how we keep it that way. I’m proud to co-sponsor Rep. Salazar’s Crucial Communism Teaching Act so we can improve our schools’ curriculum and set our students up for success,” said Rep. Buddy Carter.

“In the 20th century, communism killed 94 million people. We need to warn the next generation of this horrifying reality and educate them about the importance of keeping our great Republic free. I’m pleased to stand with Congresswoman Salazar and champion America's founding principles of freedom,” said Rep. Doug LaMalfa.

“It is critical that we ensure students are taught the history of horrifying death and destruction caused by communism and the present dangers of this ideology. I remain concerned at the number of Americans who hold favorable views of this dangerous ideology. I will continue to defend our nation’s free enterprise system that creates opportunities for others to live their own American Dream. I appreciate Congresswoman Salazar for leading this legislation and am proud to join her in supporting it,” said Rep. Lloyd Smucker.

“Ensuring America’s youth – and our next generation of leaders – fully understand the importance of freedom and democracy in the United States is vital. We must educate our students about the horrors of communism and totalitarianism, and I’m proud to join Congresswoman Salazar on this important legislation,” said Rep. Drew Ferguson.

“As a first generation American whose parents fled Communism in North Korea, I understand how precious freedom is for those who have suffered at the hands of oppression. 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.

“Communism has taken the lives of more than 100,000,000 men, women, and children. Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin, Mao Zedong, and Fidel Castro stripped away human rights through Communism. Freedom is the antithesis of Communism. Freedom makes America the greatest country in the world. It’s paramount we ensure our kids and grandkids know the horrors of Marxism so we can protect freedom and our great nation,” said Rep. Jeff Duncan.

“Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. The Horrors of Communism know no boundaries or distinctions among its victims. We live in an age where we as a nation are simultaneously seeing an exponential increase in political refugees who are fleeing the horrors of communism and a disconnected educational elite who are promoting the false utopia of a provably flawed idea. It is imperative that we as a nation teach the next generation the facts about communism and the depth and breadth of the destruction it has caused for decades. This ideology stands in stark contrast to the founding principles of freedom and democracy upon which this nation was built. We must fight to keep our Nation a beacon of hope and liberty to the world as freedom is never more than one generation from extinction. The Crucial Communist Teaching Act provides the resources to ensure the facts of history, not the feelings and political spin, are passed down to future generations,” said Rep. Rich McCormick.

“Our high school students must know the truth about communism. The Crucial Communism Teaching Act develops and provides a clear-eyed, accurate curriculum that compares communism and totalitarianism to principles of freedom and democracy that are essential to the founding of the United States. I am proud to join Rep. María Elvira Salazar and my colleagues on this legislation to ensure that our high school students are fully aware of the dangers and atrocities of communism,” said Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks.

“Ronald Reagan was right, freedom is only one generation away from extinction. It’s not passed on to future generations— we’re responsible to teach our kids about the dangers of other systems of government that trade personal liberty for false promises of prosperity. I thank Rep. Salazar for her leadership on this issue,” said Rep. Scott Franklin.

Cosponsors of the Crucial Communism Teaching Act include:

• House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (NY-21)
• Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26)
• Rep. Carlos Giménez (FL-28)
• Rep. Victoria Spartz (IN-05)
• Rep. Alex Mooney (WV-02)
• Rep. Mike Bost (IL-12)
• Rep. Jeff Duncan (SC-03)
• Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04)
• Rep. Buddy Carter (GA-01)
• Rep. Dan Crenshaw (TX-02)
• Rep. Doug LaMalfa (CA-01)
• Rep. Pete Sessions (TX-17)
• Rep. Ashley Hinson (IA-02)
• Rep. Scott Fitzgerald (WI-05)
• Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01)
• Rep. Gus Bilirakis (FL-12)
• Rep. Michelle Steel (CA-45)
• Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11)
• Rep. David Valadao (CA-22)
• Rep. Drew Ferguson (GA-03)
• Rep. Lisa McClain (MI-09)
• Rep. Scott Franklin (FL-18)
• Rep. Monica de la Cruz (TX-15)
• Rep. Michael Waltz (FL-06)
• Rep. Lloyd Smucker (PA-11)
• Rep. Rich McCormick (GA-20)
• Rep. Keith Self (TX-03)

BACKGROUND:

A 2020 poll conducted by the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation shows that the majority of young adults lack understanding of the true meaning and history of communism. The same poll showed that 1 in 5 millennials and 1 in 3 members of Gen-Z view communism favorably.

The Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation was founded in 1993 by a unanimous act of Congress. It is dedicated to the purpose of "educating Americans about the ideology, history, and legacy of communism."

Original source can be found here.