H.R. 2080: Crucial Communism Teaching Act (119th Congress) Bill Summary

This bill, titled the Crucial Communism Teaching Act, aims to create educational resources related to communism for high school students in the United States. The primary objectives of the bill include:

Purpose of the Bill

Helping families and educational institutions prepare high school students to be informed and responsible citizens.
Ensuring that students learn about the historical consequences of communism, including:
- Understanding that communism has resulted in over 100 million deaths worldwide.
- Recognizing the dangers associated with communism and similar political ideologies.
- Awareness that approximately 1.5 billion people continue to live under oppressive communist regimes.

Development of Educational Resources

The bill mandates the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation to:

Develop a civic education curriculum that:
- Includes a discussion of political ideologies, emphasizing the contrasts between communism, totalitarian regimes, and the principles of freedom and democracy that the U.S. is founded upon.
- Is regularly updated to reflect both historical and current communist regimes, focusing on:
  - Human rights abuses, such as the treatment of Uyghurs in China.
  - Actions against democracies, including China's response to protests in Hong Kong and its relationship with Taiwan.
- Is accurate, relevant, and accessible to promote better understanding among students.
- Can be integrated into various subjects, including social studies, government, history, and economics.
Create oral history resources, titled Portraits in Patriotism, that feature:
- Stories from individuals demonstrating civic-mindedness.
- Experiences of those who suffered under the political ideologies discussed.
- Comparative insights between these ideologies and that of the United States.
Collaborate with state and local educational leaders to facilitate the use of the developed curriculum and resources in high schools.