McCaul, Gottheimer, Colleagues Reintroduce Bipartisan Holocaust Education Bill on International Holocaust Remembrance Day

WASHINGTON – Today, in honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day and the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp, Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) reintroduced the Holocaust Education and Antisemitism Lessons (HEAL) Act, along with Representatives Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.), Young Kim (R-Calif.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.), Haley Stevens (D-Mich.), and 61 original cosponsors. This bipartisan legislation directs the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum to conduct a study on Holocaust education efforts in public schools nationwide.  

“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,” said Rep. McCaul. “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.”

“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 Rep. Gottheimer. “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.” 

“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 Rep. Kim. “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 Rep. Fitzpatrick. “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.”

“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 Rep. Goldman. “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 Rep. Stevens. “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.”

Background:

Over the past few years, knowledge about the Holocaust decreased at an alarming rate. A recent survey on global antisemitic attitudes found that 20% of respondents had never heard of the Holocaust, and only 39% of individuals between 18-34 recognize the Holocaust’s historical accuracy — signaling the troubling decline in Holocaust education and awareness among younger generations.

While 29 states currently have laws requiring public school students to learn about the horrors of the Holocaust, 21 continue to lack comprehensive or mandatory Holocaust education laws. In the wake of Hamas’ October 7 massacre — the deadliest attack on Jews since the Holocaust — this gap in standardized Holocaust education is particularly concerning as antisemitism surges to unprecedented levels around the country.

The HEAL Act: 

• Identifies which states and school districts mandate Holocaust education, do not require it, or offer it as an elective component.
• Examines the standards schools use to guide Holocaust education.
• Determines the intended learning outcomes of Holocaust education lesson plans and investigate whether public schools employ qualitative and/or quantitative strategies in their teaching.
• Evaluates the instructional materials used to teach about the Holocaust, including their quality and relevance.
• Ascertains in which school subjects Holocaust education is being taught, as well as the duration and comprehensiveness of related courses or lessons offered in public schools.
• Investigates the methods schools use to assess student understanding of the Holocaust.
• Reports all findings of the study to Congress.

Find the legislative text of the bipartisan HEAL Act here. 

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