March 26, 2021, Fairfax, Va.—Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today issued the following statement praising Gov. Bill Lee (R-Tenn.) for pushing legislation to remove Chinese Communist Party propaganda centers, called Confucius Institutes, from state universities in Tennessee:
“Governor Bill Lee has taken an important step in unwinding the state of Tennessee from the influence of the Chinese Communist Party by pushing legislation to deny Confucius Institutes from the public university campuses in the state.
“Confucius Institutes have been at the center of the Chinese government’s efforts to buy their way into influence over the U.S. higher education system. In Tennessee, the Governor has ordered a shutdown of the Institutes at their public colleges and universities turning away the Chinese government payola for allowing them to infiltrate the schools. In the past, public colleges in the state of Tennessee have received $2.5 million, which Governor Lee is foregoing in the future.
“Both the states of Texas and Utah are also considering legislation to shutter Confucius Institute offices in their universities. Americans for Limited Government urges all fifty states to discontinue all affiliations with this Chinese Communist Party influence operation in light of President Biden’s decision to welcome them with open arms.”
Interview Availability: Please contact Americans for Limited Government at 703-383-0880 or email media@limitgov.org.
###