Combating the Lies of Authoritarians in School Systems Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 1005
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Education
- Status
- Passed House
- Latest Action
- 2025-12-04: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-06T04:23:20Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The CLASS Act aims to promote transparency in public elementary and secondary schools by requiring disclosure of significant financial contributions or contracts from foreign sources. This is intended to help monitor potential foreign influence on U.S. education systems, particularly from authoritarian regimes, as a condition for schools to receive federal funding.
Key Provisions
- Disclosure Requirement: Public elementary or secondary schools must submit a written report to the Secretary of Education within 30 days of receiving more than $10,000 in total funds from a foreign source or entering contracts worth more than $10,000 with a foreign source.
- Report Contents:
- Name and country of the foreign source.
- For funds: The total amount received and any attached terms or conditions (e.g., restrictions on how the money is used).
- For contracts: The full terms and conditions of the agreement.
- Condition for Federal Aid: Compliance is mandatory for schools to continue receiving federal financial assistance under programs like those in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
- Definitions:
- "Applicable program": Federal education funding programs as defined in existing law.
- "Elementary school" and "secondary school": K-12 public schools.
- "Federal financial assistance": Government grants, loans, or other aid.
- "Foreign source": Entities or governments from outside the U.S., similar to definitions used in higher education laws.
The bill passed the House on December 3, 2025, and was referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions on December 4, 2025.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- This introduces a new disclosure mandate specifically for K-12 public schools, which previously lacked such requirements for foreign funding or contracts.
- It adapts transparency rules from higher education (e.g., Section 117 of the Higher Education Act, which requires colleges to report foreign gifts) to elementary and secondary levels, extending federal oversight to prevent undisclosed foreign influence without prior equivalent in K-12 law.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The Department of Education will gain new responsibilities for receiving, reviewing, and possibly acting on disclosures, potentially increasing administrative workload and enabling better tracking of foreign funding patterns.
- On Citizens and Schools: Schools face added reporting burdens, which could delay access to funds if not met, but it enhances public transparency about potential biases in curricula or programs influenced by foreign money. Students and parents may benefit from reduced risks of undisclosed foreign propaganda.
- On International Relations: Could signal U.S. concerns about influence from certain foreign governments (e.g., those labeled authoritarian), potentially straining diplomatic ties or prompting reciprocal scrutiny from other nations, though it does not prohibit such funding outright.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Public K-12 Schools: Directly required to report and comply to maintain federal aid eligibility.
- U.S. Department of Education: Oversees disclosures and enforces compliance.
- Foreign Governments and Entities: Those providing funds or entering contracts may face increased U.S. scrutiny, affecting their ability to influence American education.
- Educators, Parents, and Taxpayers: Indirectly impacted through greater accountability in how schools use foreign resources.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens federal conditions on education funding without creating new penalties; non-compliance could lead to loss of aid under existing enforcement mechanisms. It borrows from established higher education precedents, reducing legal challenges.
- Constitutional: Raises potential First Amendment questions if disclosures indirectly chill schools' associations with foreign sources, but courts have upheld similar transparency rules as not violating free speech (focusing on reporting rather than restricting content).
- Political: Positions the U.S. government to counter perceived foreign misinformation in schools, appealing to national security concerns, but may spark debates over federal overreach into local education or anti-foreign bias. As a bipartisan transparency measure, it could set precedents for broader foreign influence regulations.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Joyce, David P. [R-OH-14]
Cosponsors (5)
Rep. Rulli, Michael A. [R-OH-6], Rep. Barr, Andy [R-KY-6], Rep. Houchin, Erin [R-IN-9], Rep. Taylor, David [R-OH-2], Rep. Carey, Mike [R-OH-15]
Recent Actions
- 2025-12-04: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 2025-12-03: The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
- 2025-12-03: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- 2025-12-03: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 242 - 176 (Roll no. 312). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H5005-5006) (Roll call 312)
- 2025-12-03: Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 242 - 176 (Roll no. 312). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H5005-5006) (Roll call 312)
- 2025-12-03: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H5012-5013)
- 2025-12-03: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on H.R. 1005, the Chair put the question on passage of the bill and by voice vote announced the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Scott (VA) demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
- 2025-12-03: The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
- 2025-12-03: DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 1005.
- 2025-12-03: Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4312, H.R. 1005, H.R. 1049, H.R. 1069, H.R. 2965 and H.R. 4305. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 4312, H.R. 1005, H.R. 1049, H.R. 1069, H.R. 2965, and H.R. 4305 under a closed rule with one hour of general debate and one motion to recommit on each bill.
- 2025-12-03: Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 916. (consideration: CR H5005-5007)
- 2025-12-01: Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 916 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4312, H.R. 1005, H.R. 1049, H.R. 1069, H.R. 2965 and H.R. 4305. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 4312, H.R. 1005, H.R. 1049, H.R. 1069, H.R. 2965, and H.R. 4305 under a closed rule with one hour of general debate and one motion to recommit on each bill.
- 2025-03-05: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 6.
- 2025-03-05: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Workforce. H. Rept. 119-12.
- 2025-03-05: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Workforce. H. Rept. 119-12.
Bill Versions
- Combating the Lies of Authoritarians in School Systems Act — issued 2025-12-03 — PDF (4 pages)
- Combating the Lies of Authoritarians in School Systems Act — issued 2025-02-05 — PDF (3 pages)
- Combating the Lies of Authoritarians in School Systems Act — issued 2025-12-04 — PDF (3 pages)
- Combating the Lies of Authoritarians in School Systems Act — issued 2025-03-05 — PDF (6 pages)