Press Releases

Congressman Drew Ferguson (R-GA), Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) and 26 colleagues recently reintroduced H.R. 5349, the Crucial Communism Teaching (CCT) Act. 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.

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

“Communism is one of the most destructive political ideologies the world has ever seen,” said Congresswoman María Elvira 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.”

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

Background:

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.