119th Congress (2025-2026)

HR 1069

PROTECT Our Kids Act

Passed Origin Chamber

Jurisdiction

US Congress

Session

119th Congress (2025-2026)

Official source

Chamber

House

Session

119th Congress (2025-2026)

Jurisdiction

US Congress

Bill overview

This bill, titled the PROTECT Our Kids Act, aims to restrict federal education funding for elementary and secondary schools that receive support from the Chinese government. Specifically, it prohibits funding for schools with partnerships with Confucius Institutes, operating Confucius Classrooms, or receiving other forms of support from entities acting on behalf of the Chinese government. However, schools with existing contracts can apply for waivers demonstrating the contracts benefit the school and promote U.S. security and economic stability.

Key provisions

Prohibits federal education funding to schools with partnerships with Confucius Institutes.
Prohibits federal education funding to schools operating Confucius Classrooms.
Prohibits federal education funding to schools receiving support from entities acting on behalf of the Chinese government.
Allows schools with existing contracts to apply for waivers.
Waivers require submission of the contract text and a statement demonstrating the contract’s benefit to the school and U.S. interests.
The Department of Education will provide notice and guidance to schools on compliance.
The prohibition takes effect one year after the bill’s enactment.
Contracts in effect before enactment that continue after the effective date are subject to waiver requirements.

Who is affected

Elementary and secondary schools
Federal education funding recipients
Schools with partnerships with Confucius Institutes

Positions across the country

No public positions recorded for this legislation.

Arguments in favor

Reasons to support this legislation.

No arguments in favor have been submitted.

Submit yours

Arguments opposed

Reasons to oppose this legislation.

No arguments opposed have been submitted.

Submit yours

Legislative history

2025-02-06House

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

2025-02-06

Introduced in House

2025-02-06

Introduced in House

2025-02-12House

Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 21 - 13.

Vote map

US House by district

Loading map data

Updating map data

0 districts with vote data

Nay

Yea

Floor votes and chamber actions

Recorded roll calls list how each member voted. Unanimous consent or voice vote appears in the official action history without a roll call; no member-level tally is available for those steps.

Recorded roll calls

Read the latest version inline or switch to a previous version.

Feb 6, 2025XMLView source

119th CONGRESS — 1st Session

H. R. 1069

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

A BILL

To prohibit the availability of Federal education funds for elementary and secondary schools that receive direct or indirect support from the Government of the People’s Republic of China.

1.Short title

This Act may be cited as the

Promoting Responsible Oversight To Eliminate Communist Teachings for Our Kids Act

or the

PROTECT Our Kids Act

2.Prohibition on availability of funds

(a)Prohibition

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no funds may be made available under an applicable program to any elementary school or secondary school that—

(1)

has a partnership in effect with a cultural or language institute directly or indirectly funded by the Government of the People's Republic of China, including a Confucius Institute;

(2)operates a learning center directly or indirectly supported by the Government of the People's Republic of China (commonly referred to as a Confucius Classroom); or

(3)otherwise receives support from an individual or entity acting directly or indirectly on behalf of the Government of the People’s Republic of China, including support in the form of teaching materials, personnel, funds, or other resources.

(b)Effective date

The prohibition under subsection (a) shall take effect on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(c)Contracts made prior to date of enactment

(1)In general

(A)Waiver request submission

In the case of an elementary school or a secondary school that is a party to a contract described in paragraph (2), the school timely shall submit to the Secretary a request for a waiver of the prohibition under subsection (a) that includes—

(i)the complete and unredacted text of the contract, and if the contract is not in English, a translated copy of the text into English; and

(ii)

a statement demonstrating that the contract is for the benefit of the school’s mission and students and will promote the security, stability, and economic vitality of the United States.

(B)Waiver issuancethe Secretary, upon receipt of a request submitted under subparagraph (A), may issue a waiver to the school for a period beginning on the effective date specified in subsection (b) and ending the date on which the contract terminates.

(2)Contracts described

A contract is described in this paragraph if the contract—

(A)takes effect before the date of the enactment of this Act;

(B)continues to be effective after the effective date specified in subsection (b); and

(C)

relates to at least one of the circumstances described in paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of subsection (a).

(d)Notice to affected schools

Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall provide notice to elementary and secondary schools of the requirements of this section together with guidance for achieving compliance with such requirements.

(e)Definitions

In this section:

(1)Applicable program

The term applicable program has the meaning given that term in section 400(c)(1) of the General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1221(c)(1)).

(2)ESEA Terms

The terms elementary school, secondary school, and Secretary have the meanings given those terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).

HR 1069