WASHINGTON – Senator Eric Schmitt cosigned a letter to U.S. Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona expressing concerns over new reports showing millions of dollars from Chinese Communist Party (CCP) linked entities have flowed into America’s K-12 classrooms.
“China is our top adversary, and every public servant has a duty to protect Americans from Chinese Communist Party espionage and propaganda. There is no doubt the Chinese Communist Party is playing for keeps – it’s far past time this Administration recognizes that as fact, and this insidious influence campaign must be investigated immediately,” said Senator Eric Schmitt.
Cosigners of the letter include: Senator Tim Scott (R-SC), Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Senator Jim Risch (R-ID), Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR.), Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Senator James Lankford (R-OK.), Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS), Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT), Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), Senator Rick Scott (R-FL), Senator John Thune (R-SD), Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), and Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH).
Background:
- The letter requests:
- The U.S. Department of Education to conduct a nationwide audit to determine the extent of funding from hostile foreign adversaries in schools.
- An investigation occurs amid revelations that, for nearly two decades, the CCP has threatened our national security by using tools such as grants, sister school partnerships, “Confucius Classrooms”, and other state-sponsored programming to compromise the integrity of America’s K-12 educational system.