WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representatives Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA), House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Kathy Manning (D-NC), and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) today introduced the Never Again Education Reauthorization Act of 2023, a bill to reauthorize a program that provides funding and resources for schools to properly educate students about the Holocaust.
Antisemitism is on the rise in the United States, with the Anti-Defamation League reporting more than 3,600 antisemitic incidents last year alone. Since Hamas’ October 7th terrorist attack in Israel, there has been a 388% spike in hate towards Jewish community members. The Never Again Education Reauthorization Act of 2023 amplifies the work of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, leveraging a combination of public and private funds to develop and disseminate high-quality Holocaust education resources, which can be adopted by local schools and included in their curriculum.
“As Israel’s ally, it is our duty to ensure that the horrors of the Holocaust are not repeated. With pro-Hamas demonstrations happening at colleges and high schools across the nation, it is critical that we properly educate our students about the history of antisemitism. No one should be discriminated against because of their faith, culture, or heritage. When we say ‘never again,’ we mean it,” said Rep. Carter.
“I am proud to help lead the reauthorization of the Never Again Education Act, which will equip our teachers with the tools necessary to educate the next generation about the horrors of the Holocaust and the important lessons that emerged from this terrible stain on our world’s history,” said Congresswoman Elise Stefanik. “As we continue to see unprecedented levels of antisemitism across the country, making resources available for our educators to properly inform and teach our children about Jewish history is more important than ever before. My home state of New York is home to the largest population of Jewish people outside of Israel and this legislation honors their pasts as well as drives home the message that these atrocities can never happen again.”
Currently, the program established in 2020 under President Trump with widespread bipartisan support, is set to expire at the end of fiscal year 2025.
“Teaching about the Holocaust and the 2000-year history of antisemitism is critical to ensuring that future generations of students learn the unique nature of antisemitism as well as the importance of speaking out against all hate. During this time of rising antisemitism, I’m pleased to work with my congressional colleagues to reintroduce this vitally important bill,” said Rep. Manning.
“More than ever, teachers need resources to develop and improve Holocaust education programs that reach generations who, with every passing year, lose touch with the murderous slaughter of six million Jews,” said Wasserman Schultz. “If this sensitive subject is not taught to young people, we are doomed to witness similar horrors like the one just inflicted on the Israeli people, a massacre that antisemitic terrorists vow to repeat. It is so critical right now, as Holocaust denial and antisemitism surge in the very social media spaces that students inhabit, and because Jewish students increasingly fear for their own safety. Education is key to ensuring future generations are informed on how deadly antisemitism can be.”
The Never Again Education Reauthorization Act of 2023 boasts support from multiple organizations, including the Jewish Federation of North America, William Levine Family Institute for Holocaust Education, Anti-Defamation League, Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, American Jewish Committee, the American Jewish Congress, Union for Reform Judaism, and Christians United for Israel Action Fund.
"The youngest generations' awareness and understanding of the Holocaust is woefully falling behind, a fact that is all the more disturbing as we see antisemitism spike at alarming rates. Educating the next generation about the horrors and atrocities of the Holocaust is a critical step in ensuring that we fulfill the sacred promise of 'Never Again,'" said Karen Paikin Barall, AVP Public Affairs, Jewish Federation of North America.
“The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is grateful for the ongoing bipartisan support from Congress for Holocaust education. Teaching the history of the Holocaust and its lessons about unchecked antisemitism and the power of propaganda and conspiracy theories is vitally important, especially in light of the alarming rise in antisemitism,” said Gretchen Skidmore, Director, William Levine Family Institute for Holocaust Education.
“ADL research shows that Holocaust education is a critically important tool in our arsenal against hate. Particularly at this historic moment of rising antisemitism, teachers must have access to resources and training necessary to effectively teach students the important lessons of the Holocaust. Thank you to Reps. Buddy Carter (R-GA), Kathy Manning (D-NC), Elise Stefanik (R-NY), and Debbie Wasserman Schutlz (D-FL) for their leadership in introducing the Never Again Education Reauthorization Act of 2023 and ensuring that Never Again is now,” said Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO, Anti-Defamation League (ADL).
“At a time of rising antisemitism in the United States, particularly in our public schools, it is vitally important that resources are available to strengthen Holocaust and antisemitism education. We support the reauthorization of the ‘Never Again Education Act’, which allows the United States Holocaust Museum to provide those vital resources,” said William Daroff, CEO, Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.
“AJC’s recent survey found that only 53% of American adults knew that six million Jews were killed in the Holocaust,” said Ted Deutch, CEO of the American Jewish Committee. “Knowledge about the Holocaust can help counter the dramatic rise in antisemitism we are seeing in the United States and around the world; indeed, this is a fundamental aim of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. We appreciate Congress working to reauthorize the Never Again Education Act, which is equipping teachers with the necessary tools to educate students about critical lessons of the Holocaust. We look forward to working with Congress to pass this reauthorization and continuing our critical work to combat antisemitism and hate.”
“The American Jewish Congress applauds Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA), Rep. Kathy Manning (D-NC), Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (D-FL), and Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) for introducing the Never Again Education Reauthorization Act of 2023, which reauthorizes federal funding beyond the initial 5-year period envisioned by the legislation. Our organization was proud to support the Never Again Education Act when it first became law in 2020. Continued polling shows that our society remains shockingly uneducated about the Holocaust and its horrors. Now, with the abhorrent rise in antisemitism that the American Jewish community is experiencing, Holocaust education is more crucial than ever. And no institution can do better work in that regard than the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. Remembering the world’s darkest hours and what pure, unadulterated hate can lead to is critical to fighting Jew-hatred in all its manifestations. Unfortunately, the hatred that led to the murder of 6 million men, women, and children during the Holocaust has not gone away. It has merely permuted, and most recently reared its head in the form of the antisemitic terrorism espoused by Hamas. The American Jewish Congress looks forward to the swift passing of this bipartisan legislation and calls on all Members of Congress to join the efforts to advance Holocaust education and the fight against antisemitism,” said Jack Rosen, President of the American Jewish Congress.
Read the full bill text here.
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