Sen. Cruz Introduces Bill Safeguarding Schools From Influence by Foreign Adversaries

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) introduced the Transparency in Reporting of Adversarial Contributions to Education (TRACE) Act to enhance transparency for parents regarding foreign funding in K-12 schools.

Sen. Cruz said, “The Chinese Communist Party spends vast resources to control what Americans see, hear, and ultimately think. Our foreign adversaries are actively targeting American educational institutions, and the TRACE Act will help protect our classrooms from foreign influence by providing parents with the transparency they deserve. I urge my colleagues to pass this legislation without delay.”

Sen. Lummis said, “The Chinese Communist Party has spread its influence across American life, targeting our farmland, technology, and even school systems. Parents deserve peace of mind knowing their children are learning American values, not propaganda from our foreign adversaries. This legislation prioritizes transparency while protecting our children from harmful foreign agendas.”

Companion legislation was introduced in the House by Rep. Aaron Bean (R-FL-04).

Rep. 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 crucial we parents understand the potential impact of foreign influence on our children’s classrooms and take concrete steps to prevent foreign nations from reaching America’s youth. I want to thank Senator Cruz for joining me in this critical effort and spearheading this legislation in the Senate.”

This bill is supported by the Parents Defending Education Action and Heritage Action.

Alfonso Aguilar, Director of Federal Affairs for Parents Defending Education Action said, “Senator Cruz’s TRACE Act is extremely necessary. Parents should know if a foreign government or entity is providing funding to their children’s schools, trying to influence what is taught to them or seeking to access important data and intellectual property. A 2023 investigation from our partner organization Defending Education uncovered Chinese Communist Party (CCP) influence in numerous public schools and school districts across the nation. Their research showed that entities with ties to the CCP such as the Confucius Institutes have provided curriculum content, funding and Chinese teachers to U.S. public schools. Disturbingly, they also found that the Chinese government efforts appeared to target school districts near over twenty American bases. Our investigation, however, only discovered some or the CCP’s growing involvement in our public schools. The TRACE Act would ensure that parents have a full and continuous accounting of China’s meddling in their children’s education.”

Read the full text of the bill here.

BACKGROUND

The Transparency in Reporting of Adversarial Contributions to Education (TRACE) Act will:

• Require schools to allow parents the opportunity to review 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 parents be notified of how many school employees are being compensated by another country or foreign adversary, and whether foreign nations have donated to the institution.

Sen. Cruz first introduced this legislation in 2024.