House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries holds a press conference during the government shutdown on Capitol Hill in Washington, Oct. 14, 2025. (Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters)
He accused Republicans of "attacking public education just like they're attacking public health and attacking public safety."
One of the two bills was led by House GOP Policy Committee Chairman Kevin Hern, R-Okla., and would block federal funds from elementary and secondary schools that have programs, cultural exchanges or other class-related activities that get dollars from the Chinese government.
It would also block federal funds from schools that either directly or indirectly get any kind of support from entities or people related to the Chinese government.
Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks during an international business meeting on March 28, 2025, in Beijing. (Ken Ishii/Getty Images)
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Republicans argued these were commonsense bills aimed at keeping malign foreign influence out of U.S. schools.
But Democrats criticized both during debate on the House floor.
"The bill gives no guidance on what acting directly or indirectly on behalf of means, or how you are supposed to know and how a parent's contribution to a school program should be evaluated," Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Va., said. "And really, are you supposed to scrutinize all parents' contributions or just those from parents of Chinese American students?"
Elizabeth Elkind is a politics reporter for Fox News Digital leading coverage of the House of Representatives. Previous digital bylines seen at Daily Mail and CBS News.
Follow on Twitter at @liz_elkind and send tips to elizabeth.elkind@fox.com
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/more-than-160-house-dems-vote-against-crackdown-foreign-influence-us-schools