House of Representatives Passes Crucial Communism Teaching Act

On December 6, 2024, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed H.R. 5349, the Crucial Communism Teaching Act. Authored by Rep. Maria Salazar (R-FL), this bipartisan bill makes curricular materials available through the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation (VOC) to help educate high school students about the dangers of communism and totalitarianism, and how those systems are contrary to the founding principles of freedom and democracy in the United States. 
 
The Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation is honored to be featured as the educational resource for this much-needed, bipartisan effort. Between the fourth edition of VOC’s curriculum, Communism: Its Ideology, Its History, and Its Legacy, our free online curriculum, teacher certification course, Witness Project documentary series, and the VOC Museum in Washington, D.C., we are proud to offer educational resources for teachers and students to study the criminal past and enduring legacy of communism. 
 
“This is a monumental victory for the rising generations of American students,” said Dr. Eric Patterson, President and CEO of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation (VOC). “The Berlin Wall may have fallen in 1989, but the evil ideology behind it did not. Today, one-fifth of humanity still lives under communist tyranny. Sadly, American students are increasingly unaware of the history and legacy of communism. It’s time to right this wrong—the Crucial Communism Teaching Act is a commonsense piece of legislation to ensure that our students learn the truth, past and present, about this deadly ideology.” 
 
“By passing my Crucial Communism Teaching Act, the House of Representatives will ensure future generations will remember the pain and suffering caused by the brutal communist ideology,” said Rep. María Elvira Salazar. “My community in Miami understands the evils of communism very well, and we must ensure all Americans are aware of the death and misery it has caused. Their stories and memories will now live on in the minds of our youth.” 
 
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) applauded the House’s adoption of the bill, commenting that “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. As we face growing challenges from adversaries like the Chinese Communist Party, the Crucial Communism Teaching Act takes a stand against this dangerous trend. It is more important than ever that our students are taught the true dangers of communism and the importance of safeguarding our freedoms.” 
 
For press inquiries, please contact Michal Harmata at  michal.harmata@victimsofcommunism.org or (202) 629-9500.