WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) in introducing the Transparency for Confucius Institutes Act, legislation to require program participation agreements between the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) agency which administers educational programs, known as the Hanban, and American institutions to address the ways in which Beijing exerts undue influence through Confucius Institutes.

“The Chinese Communist Party will take any opportunity they get to indoctrinate American students,” said Senator Cramer. “Our bill shines a light on their activities and increases accountability measures to keep their propaganda out of our schools.”

Confucius Institutes, which are run and paid for by the CCP, currently operate at 55 American colleges and universities. They allow the CCP to discretely influence what college students are taught about topics like Hong Kong and Tiananmen Square and impede freedom of speech on campus.

 Senators Cramer and Blackburn are joined on the bill by Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Mike Braun (R-IN), Josh Hawley (R-MO), and Rick Scott (R-FL).