Holocaust Education and Antisemitism Lessons Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 768
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Education
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-01-28: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-30T08:05:52Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The Holocaust Education and Antisemitism Lessons Act (H.R. 768) aims to assess the current state of Holocaust education across U.S. public schools. It directs the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum to study how states, local school districts, and schools are implementing such education, with a focus on raising awareness of the Holocaust, preventing genocide and hate, and understanding antisemitism's history and forms. The goal is to identify strengths, gaps, and needs to inform future improvements in teaching this topic.
Key Provisions
- Study Mandate: Within 180 days of the bill's enactment, the Director of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum must begin a study covering all 50 states, a nationally representative sample of local educational agencies (school districts), and a sample of public elementary and secondary schools within those districts.
- Study Elements:
- Determine which states and school districts require Holocaust education in their curricula versus those where it is optional.
- Review state standards and local requirements for Holocaust education, including:
- Centralized systems for sharing curricula and materials.
- Professional training opportunities for teachers (both new and experienced).
- Role of non-school organizations, like museums and cultural centers.
- Challenges educators face in meeting requirements.
- Needed training and resources for teachers.
- Use of resources from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum by states, districts, or local museums.
- Examine intended learning goals and effective teaching methods, such as classroom discussions, homework, experiential learning (e.g., museum visits), project-based learning (a method where students learn through hands-on, real-world projects), trauma-informed approaches (teaching sensitive topics with care for students' emotional well-being), and integrating Holocaust lessons across subjects and the school year.
- Identify types of teaching materials used, including primary sources (original documents or artifacts from the time period).
- Assess in which subjects (e.g., history, social studies) the Holocaust is taught, how much class time is allocated, and how comprehensive the curricula are (e.g., covering all aspects of the Holocaust using reliable sources).
- Evaluate how schools measure student outcomes, including knowledge of the Holocaust and ability to recognize antisemitism, bigotry, hate, and genocide in past and present contexts, using both standard tests and alternative methods.
- Report to Congress: The Museum must submit a report summarizing the study's findings, due no later than 180 days after completing the study or 3 years from enactment (whichever comes first).
- Definitions:
- "Holocaust" refers to the systematic persecution and murder of six million Jews and millions of others by Nazi Germany and its collaborators during World War II.
- "Holocaust education" includes activities to build student understanding of the Holocaust, its lessons for preventing hate and genocide, and the history and evolution of antisemitism (prejudice against Jewish people, often involving conspiracy theories and propaganda).
- Other terms, like "elementary school" and "local educational agency," align with definitions in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (a major federal law governing K-12 education).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces a new federal requirement for a comprehensive study and report, which does not amend prior laws but builds on them. It references the Never Again Education Act (2020), which provided funding for Holocaust education resources, by incorporating its definition of the Holocaust and encouraging use of Museum materials. No direct mandates for schools are added; instead, it focuses on gathering data to potentially guide future policies.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum will bear the primary responsibility for conducting the study and report, requiring resources for research, data collection, and analysis. Congress may use the findings to shape federal education funding or initiatives.
- Citizens: Students in public schools could benefit from improved, more consistent Holocaust education if the study's recommendations lead to better curricula, teacher training, or resources. Teachers may gain access to professional development and materials to address challenges in teaching sensitive topics.
- International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though enhanced U.S. education on the Holocaust and antisemitism could strengthen America's role in global efforts to combat hate and genocide remembrance, aligning with international commitments like those from the United Nations.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- States and Local Educational Agencies: Responsible for curricula and implementation; the study will evaluate their current efforts and identify gaps.
- Public Elementary and Secondary Schools: Directly involved as the focus of the study, including teachers who deliver Holocaust education.
- Students: Primary beneficiaries, as the legislation seeks to ensure they receive comprehensive, effective lessons on the Holocaust and related issues.
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum: Leads the study and provides expertise/resources.
- Informal Educational Organizations: Such as local museums and cultural centers, which may be highlighted for their role in supporting school programs.
- Congress: Receives the report and could influence future education policy based on its findings.
- Bipartisan Lawmakers: The bill has broad support from over 50 cosponsors across party lines, indicating potential for non-partisan advancement.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The bill respects federalism by studying (rather than dictating) state and local education practices, as education is primarily a state responsibility under the U.S. Constitution's 10th Amendment (which reserves non-delegated powers to states). It promotes evidence-based improvements without imposing new mandates.
- Constitutional: No apparent conflicts; the study aligns with Congress's authority to support education under the Spending Clause (Article I, Section 8) and general welfare promotion. It emphasizes free speech and academic freedom by focusing on voluntary resources and trauma-informed teaching.
- Political: Demonstrates rare bipartisan consensus (introduced by Rep. Gottheimer with cosponsors from both parties), signaling strong public and political will to address rising antisemitism and historical ignorance. Findings could influence debates on curriculum standards amid concerns over hate crimes, potentially leading to expanded federal support for Holocaust education programs.
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 (108)
Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10], Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Stevens, Haley M. [D-MI-11], Rep. Kim, Young [R-CA-40], Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3], Rep. Auchincloss, Jake [D-MA-4], Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12], Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA-2], Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20], Rep. Cisneros, Gilbert Ray, Jr. [D-CA-31], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21], Rep. Cuellar, Henry [D-TX-28], Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1], Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4], Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37], Rep. Fletcher, Lizzie [D-TX-7], Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-22], Rep. Friedman, Laura [D-CA-30], Rep. Garbarino, Andrew R. [R-NY-2], Rep. Gillen, Laura [D-NY-4], Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6], Rep. Hoyle, Val T. [D-OR-4], Rep. Kaptur, Marcy [D-OH-9], Rep. Kean, Thomas H. [R-NJ-7], Rep. Kustoff, David [R-TN-8], Rep. LaLota, Nick [R-NY-1], Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1], Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2], Rep. Malliotakis, Nicole [R-NY-11], Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large], Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6], Rep. Moskowitz, Jared [D-FL-23], Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6], Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12], Rep. Norcross, Donald [D-NJ-1], Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19], Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50], Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8], Rep. Ryan, Patrick [D-NY-18], Rep. Salazar, Maria Elvira [R-FL-27], Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10] and 58 more
Recent Actions
- 2025-01-28: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 2025-01-28: Introduced in House
- 2025-01-28: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Holocaust Education and Antisemitism Lessons Act — issued 2025-01-28 — PDF (8 pages)