US House members introduce bill to fund Holocaust education in schools

Bipartisan legislation will establish Treasury fund, which will be combined with private donations to finance grants for public and private middle schools and high schools

By Ron Kampeas 6 February 2019, 10:10 pm 2 Edit

Illustrative: A tour at the Amud Aish Memorial Museum in Brooklyn, NY on January 10, 2018. The museum focuses on Jewish religious practice and the role of faith during the Holocaust. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

WASHINGTON (JTA) — A bipartisan slate of House members introduced a bill that would grant money to Holocaust education in schools.

The Never Again Education Act would establish the Holocaust Education Assistance Program Fund in the US Treasury. The bill would combine appropriated funds and private donations.

A release from the office of Democratic Rep. Carolyn Maloney, one of the lead sponsors, said the bill would “finance grants to public and private middle and high schools to help teachers develop and improve Holocaust education programs.”

The other lead sponsor is Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik.

The lead sponsors, launching the bill Monday at the Center for Jewish History in New York City, cited reports of a rise in anti-Semitism and a decline in awareness of the Holocaust.

“Anti-Semitism is on the rise around the world and here at home, and the memory of the Holocaust is fading for far too many Americans,” said Maloney, who launched a similar initiative in the last Congress that languished. “We can combat this by making sure we teach our students, tomorrow’s leaders, about the horrors of the Holocaust.”

Also present at the bill’s launch were representatives of Jewish advocacy groups and Israeli diplomats.