WASHINGTON DC – Following the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz and International Holocaust Remembrance Day, U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and James Lankford (R-OK), co-founders and co-chairs of the Senate Bipartisan Taskforce for Combating Antisemitism, introduced the Holocaust Education and Antisemitism Lessons (HEAL) Act to strengthen Holocaust education at public schools and increase awareness of Holocaust educational resources available to local communities. This bipartisan legislation would direct the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum to conduct a first-of-its-kind, comprehensive study on Holocaust education. This study would help identify the resources and methods available to public schools to improve the ways in which educators teach students across the country about the Holocaust and antisemitism.
“As our nation continues to face an alarming rise of antisemitism, and with Holocaust denial and distortion spiking worldwide, it’s critical that we identify and improve the resources available to our nation’s educators so they can accurately inform students about the horrors of the Holocaust and the dangers of anti-Jewish bigotry,” dijo el Senador Rosen. “Our bipartisan legislation will help ensure the lessons of this dark chapter in history are never forgotten. I’ll keep working to combat antisemitism and make certain that Never Again means never again.”
“Antisemitism and anti-Jewish crimes remain sadly on the rise in our nation and around the world,” said Senator Lankford. “Senator Rosen and I continue to work together to call out antisemitism no matter who or where it comes from. I will continue to do what I can to ensure future generations never forget the Holocaust and understand the fact that everyone should be able to freely live their faith without fear or persecution.”
“Holocaust education is not just about preserving history—it fosters empathy, underscores the fragility of democracy, teaches about the role of antisemitism as Nazi ideology and the importance of bearing witness. ADL’s Center for Antisemitism Research (CAR) survey results reveal alarming gaps in Holocaust knowledge, with nearly 6 in 10 Americans under 30 unable to identify how many Jews were murdered, and 1 in 4 adults saying they ‘don’t know.’ ADL applauds Senators Rosen and Lankford, Co-Chairs of the Senate Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism, for reintroducing the Holocaust Education and Antisemitism Lessons (HEAL) Act and urges swift passage of this important bill to ensure every student has access to comprehensive Holocaust education,” said Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of ADL.
“American Jewish Committee (AJC) surveyed adults in the United States and found that only 53% of Americans over the age of 18 knew that approximately six million Jews were killed in the Holocaust. Knowing about the Holocaust contributes to understanding and confronting antisemitism in the United States. We applaud Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and James Lankford (R-OK), co-chairs of the Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism, for introducing the Holocaust Education and Antisemitism Lessons (HEAL) Act. We also appreciate their commitment to supporting educators throughout the country and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in its mission to ensure the Holocaust is taught accurately and comprehensively,” said Ted Deutch, CEO of the American Jewish Committee.
“With rising antisemitism around the world, the HEAL Act is more critical than ever. Jewish Federations across the United States have long worked to encourage requiring Holocaust education in schools. We are grateful that the Senate is reintroducing this bill, which will teach students about the Holocaust and its lessons to prevent such atrocities from ever happening again.” said Karen Paikin Barall, Vice President of Government Relations at Jewish Federations of North America.
“Hadassah is proud to support the Holocaust Education and Antisemitism Lessons (HEAL) Act. One of the most important ways to demonstrate our collective responsibility to fight antisemitism, hatred and bigotry is to ensure that future generations learn about the Holocaust. Yet, as antisemitism continues to alarmingly rise, schools are becoming hotbeds of hatred toward Jewish students. Passing the HEAL Act will help identify gaps in Holocaust education and review best practices from expert historic and Jewish studies perspectives to provide resources that help educators teach students about this horrific period in history and the evils to which intolerance can lead,” said Carol Ann Schwartz, Hadassah National President, and Ellen Finkelstein, Hadassah Chief Executive Officer.
As co-chairs of the Senate Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism, Senators Rosen and Lankford have been leading the fight against antisemitism. They pushed to create the first-ever national strategy to counter antisemitism. Last year, Senator Rosen’s bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Never Again Education Act became law.
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