October 7 Remembrance Education Act

Bill Number

H.R. 5714

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Education

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-10-08: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Last Updated

2025-12-11T15:46:25Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The October 7 Remembrance Education Act (H.R. 5714) aims to address modern-day antisemitism by directing the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum to create an educational curriculum focused on the Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel on October 7, 2023, and the surrounding rise in antisemitic rhetoric. The goal is to provide resources for secondary schools (high schools) to teach about these events and their implications.

Key Provisions

• Curriculum Development: Within 180 days of the bill's enactment, the Director of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum must develop a curriculum for secondary schools. It must cover:
• The details of the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, including the scale of violence (over 1,200 killed and 240 kidnapped).
• The historical role of antisemitism (prejudice or hatred against Jewish people) in contributing to such attacks.
• The spread of antisemitism and anti-Israel rhetoric in the United States, particularly on college campuses, after the attacks.
• The role of social media in accelerating this spread.
• How denial or distortion of facts about the attacks serves as a form of antisemitism.
• Report to Congress: After completing the curriculum, the Museum Director must submit a report to Congress detailing the curriculum. This report is due within 180 days of completion or no later than 3 years after enactment, whichever comes first.
• Definitions:
• "Antisemitism" uses the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's 2016 working definition, which includes examples like targeting Israel as a Jewish collectivity.
• Terms like "local educational agency" (school districts), "secondary school," and "State" follow definitions from the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (a major federal education law).

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill introduces a new federal mandate for the Holocaust Memorial Museum to produce specific educational materials, which did not previously exist. It does not amend or repeal any existing laws but builds on broader federal efforts to combat antisemitism, such as those in education policy. The curriculum is voluntary for schools, so it expands available resources without imposing requirements.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: The Holocaust Memorial Museum will face new responsibilities and resource needs for curriculum development and reporting, potentially requiring additional funding from Congress.
• Citizens and Education: Secondary school students and teachers gain access to free, specialized materials to learn about recent events and antisemitism, which could improve awareness and reduce prejudice. It may influence school curricula indirectly through local adoption.
• International Relations: By highlighting Hamas (a U.S.-designated terrorist group) and the attacks on Israel, the bill reinforces U.S. support for Israel and could strengthen diplomatic ties, while educating on global antisemitism trends.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• United States Holocaust Memorial Museum: Primary entity responsible for creating and reporting on the curriculum.
• Secondary Schools and Local Educational Agencies: Potential users of the curriculum to integrate into history, social studies, or civics classes.
• Students and Educators: Direct beneficiaries through enhanced learning on current events and hate prevention.
• Congress and Federal Government: Receives the report and may oversee implementation or provide funding.
• Jewish Communities and Advocacy Groups: Likely to benefit from increased focus on combating antisemitism.
• Broader U.S. Public: Indirectly affected via heightened national discourse on antisemitism and foreign policy issues.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: The bill aligns with existing federal authority over the Holocaust Memorial Museum (established by Congress in 1980) and uses established definitions to avoid vagueness. It promotes voluntary education, reducing risks of legal challenges.
• Constitutional: No direct mandates on schools, so it avoids First Amendment concerns about compelled speech. However, if schools adopt it widely, it could spark debates on balancing free expression with anti-hate education.
• Political: Introduced with bipartisan support (from both Republican and Democratic members), it reflects a consensus on addressing post-October 7 antisemitism amid U.S. campus protests. It may influence ongoing debates on education policy and U.S.-Israel relations without partisan overtones in the text.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]

Cosponsors (20)

Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32], Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1], Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1], Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10], Rep. Scott, David [D-GA-13], Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24], Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25], Rep. Gillen, Laura [D-NY-4], Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16], Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3], Rep. Stanton, Greg [D-AZ-4], Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Moskowitz, Jared [D-FL-23], Rep. Cuellar, Henry [D-TX-28], Rep. LaLota, Nick [R-NY-1], Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2], Rep. Norcross, Donald [D-NJ-1], Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9], Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1]

Recent Actions

• 2025-10-08: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
• 2025-10-08: Introduced in House
• 2025-10-08: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• October 7 Remembrance Education Act — issued 2025-10-08 — PDF (4 pages)