


A group of seven Republican House members from New York are urging Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) to investigate a report that found that the Chinese Communist Party had funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars to New York schools.
Led by Rep. Brandon Williams (R-NY), the group of lawmakers urged Hochul to investigate a report from Parents Defending Education that showed 12 New York school districts and the New York Department of Education received nearly $400,000 from the Chinese Communist Party. Along with Williams, the letter was signed by Reps. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), Claudia Tenney (R-NY), Mike Lawler (R-NY), Anthony D'Esposito (R-NY), and Marc Molinaro (R-NY).
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"Considering China’s adversarial relationship with the United States, this is deeply problematic and presents a national security concern for our constituents and state," the lawmakers wrote.
"We cannot sit idle and allow China to infiltrate our classrooms and communities through these controversial programs. We are writing to not only share this dangerous situation, but to request that you address this concerning report and the underlying issue of CCP influence in New York K-12 education," they added.
The lawmakers asked Hochul to direct the New York Department of Education to tighten reporting requirements for foreign funding in schools, require K-12 schools to release an annual report of any foreign funds, and investigate any partnerships or ties to the Chinese Communist Party or military that a school may have.
Williams, who led the letter, told the Washington Examiner in a statement that the "Chinese Communist Party is wrapping its tentacles of espionage and influence around America’s schoolchildren" and that Congress needs to pass the Stop Funding Our Adversaries Act, which he had introduced to ban taxpayer funding of any research project with the Chinese Communist Party.
"Before it’s too late, the U.S. needs to take bold steps to expel all CCP involvement from our education institutions, especially our K-12 classrooms," Williams said. "Gov. Hochul, will you help us stop the CCP from secretly influencing K-12 education in New York State? Nothing good will come from a totalitarian and tyrannical government messing with our kids. Will you stand with us?”
Stefanik criticized Hochul and called the revelation of Chinese influence in K-12 schools "alarming" and "an egregious breach of both our national security and an attempt by China to indoctrinate our next generation.”
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“Communist China is invading America’s classrooms, funneling over $17 million from CCP financial institutions into K-12 schools right in our backyard," Stefanik said. "New York’s Far Left Democrat leaders like Gov. Hochul are asleep at the wheel, instead of prioritizing their Far Left Wishlist, they should be putting an immediate stop to the flow of cash for CCP access to the 12 New York school systems including the New York Department of Education."
The Washington Examiner has reached out to Hochul's office for comment.