Gottheimer leads reintroduction of bipartisan Holocaust education bill on International Holocaust Remembrance Day

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On International Holocaust Remembrance Day and the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) reintroduced the Holocaust Education and Antisemitism Lessons (HEAL) Act in the House with 61 original cosponsors.

This bipartisan legislation will direct the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum to conduct a study on Holocaust education efforts in public schools nationwide.

There is growing evidence that knowledge about the Holocaust is fading. A recent survey on global antisemitic attitudes found that 20% of respondents had never heard of the Holocaust. Less than half of respondents recognize the Holocaust’s historical accuracy, dropping to 39% among those aged 18 to 34 — highlighting the troubling decline in Holocaust education and awareness among younger generations.

The bipartisan bill is led by Gottheimer and co-led by Reps. Dan Goldman (NY-10), Michael McCaul (TX-10), Haley Stevens (MI-11), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1), and Young Kim (CA-40).

The HEAL Act will:

• Determine which states and school districts require or do not require Holocaust education in their curriculum;
• Determine which states and school districts offer optional Holocaust education;
• Identify the standards and requirements schools mandate on this Holocaust education;
• Determine the range of intended outcomes from a Holocaust education lesson plan and whether public schools use certain qualitative and quantitative strategies in their Holocaust education;
• Identify the types and quality of instructional materials used to teach about the Holocaust
• Identify in what school disciplines Holocaust education is being taught and the duration and comprehensiveness of any Holocaust-related courses/lessons provided by public schools;
• Identify the approaches used by schools to assess what students learn; and
• Report the results of the study to Congress.

“We cannot — and we must not — ever ignore the stunning rise in antisemitism and Holocaust denial — across Europe, around the world, and increasingly, here at home in the United States, including the violent, antisemitic attacks we have experienced in my own home state of New Jersey and around the country,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “The mounting evidence that knowledge about the Holocaust is beginning to fade should also alarm us all. That is why I’m proud to be reintroducing the HEAL Act — bipartisan legislation asking the Holocaust Memorial Museum to conduct a study on Holocaust education efforts in public schools nationwide. We have an obligation to try to heal our communities and teach future generations about this stain of hatred, so that ‘Never Again’ is not just a phrase, but a reality.”

“Like thousands of others, my dad fought in World War II to end the scourge of antisemitism, and it is now our responsibility to ensure it does not return. With antisemitic incidents on the rise across the nation, it’s imperative that we improve Holocaust education and remind our youth about the horrors of antisemitism. This bill will do just that, ensuring future generations of Americans are equipped and empowered to stand up for what is right,” said Congressman Michael McCaul (TX-10).

“The alarming rise in antisemitism around the world has made it painfully clear that the words ‘Never Forget’ have lost their resonance, and far too many have forgotten the horrors of the Holocaust,” said Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10). “We have a responsibility to educate the next generation of Americans about the atrocities inflicted upon the Jewish people by the Nazis. I am proud to join my colleagues in reintroducing the bipartisan HEAL Act, which will help ensure that schools across the nation adequately teach the history of the Holocaust to millions of American children. Antisemitic hate ultimately stems from ignorance, and education in our public schools is essential to combating it.”

“The only way to ensure the horrors of the Holocaust are never repeated, is through education, especially given the recent dramatic rise in antisemitism,” said Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11). “That’s why I’m proud to co-lead the HEAL Act, which will help identify gaps in Holocaust education in the United States and identify areas for improvement. Every student in Michigan and across the country must learn about this period of history so those who perished are never forgotten and this evil may never happen again.”

“As we mark 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz and see rising antisemitism across the country – especially on college campuses – we are reminded of the dire need to ensure the horrors of the Holocaust are taught and stories are passed down for future generations. We cannot allow history to repeat itself,” said Congresswoman Young Kim (CA-40). “The HEAL Act will allow us to explore the status of Holocaust education in the United States, so we can improve educational outcomes, counter antisemitism, and ultimately ensure never again truly means never again.”

“The alarming increase in antisemitic rhetoric and violence in our educational institutions over the past year serves as a serious warning about the dangers of allowing history’s most important lessons to fade away,” said Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1). “The Holocaust, one of humanity’s darkest periods, has too often been minimized or overlooked in education. As a result, our youth are left ill-equipped to recognize and confront the insidious forces of hatred and bigotry that threaten our society. Our bipartisan HEAL Act aims to ensure that future generations learn the complete truth about the Holocaust. By doing so, we will equip them with the knowledge and moral courage to recognize prejudice, challenge injustice, and uphold the values that protect our shared humanity. Education is our strongest defense against repeating history’s gravest mistakes.”

Currently, while 29 states have laws requiring public school students to learn about the horrors of the Holocaust, 21 continue to lack comprehensive or mandatory Holocaust education laws. This gap in standardized Holocaust education is particularly concerning as antisemitism surges to unprecedented levels around the country. The Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) most recent Audit of Antisemitic Incidents captured 8,873 incidents throughout the U.S. — a 140% increase from 2022 and the highest number on record since ADL began tracking these events in 1979.

The need for Holocaust education has never been more urgent. On October 7, 2023, Hamas brutally murdered more than 1,200 men, women, and children — including 46 Americans — in the deadliest attack on Jews since the Holocaust. This horrific attack, combined with rising antisemitism and declining Holocaust awareness, underscores why Holocaust education is one of the most powerful tools we have to confront this hatred and ignorance.