A resolution commemorating the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz extermination camp in Nazi-occupied Poland and International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
- Bill Number
- S.Res. 40
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- International Affairs
- Status
- Passed Senate
- Latest Action
- 2025-01-27: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S387-388; text: CR S398)
- Last Updated
- 2025-05-27T14:13:28Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This Senate resolution (S. Res. 40) commemorates the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz extermination camp on January 27, 1945, by Allied forces during World War II. It also recognizes January 27 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day, established by the United Nations in 2005. The resolution aims to honor Holocaust victims, survivors, and lessons from the genocide, while promoting education to combat intolerance, antisemitism, and future atrocities.
Key Provisions
The resolution includes detailed historical context in its "Whereas" clauses, followed by five specific actions for the Senate:
- Commemorate the date: Designates January 27, 2025, as the 80th anniversary of Auschwitz's liberation and International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
- Remember the victims: Urges all Americans to recall the approximately 1,100,000 people murdered at Auschwitz (including about 960,000 Jews and over 100,000 from other groups like Poles, Romani people, Soviet prisoners, and others), as well as the 6,000,000 Jews and millions of other victims of Nazi persecution.
- Honor survivors: Recognizes the legacy of Holocaust and Auschwitz survivors, noting that only about 220,000 remain alive and emphasizing the need to preserve their stories.
- Promote tolerance and justice: Calls on Americans to work toward peace, end genocide and persecution, and foster understanding to prevent similar injustices.
- Combat antisemitism: Recommits the U.S. to fighting all forms of antisemitism, highlighting recent increases in incidents (e.g., over 10,000 since October 2023 and a 63% rise from 2022 to 2023 per FBI data).
The resolution references the scale of Nazi crimes, including systematic murder, torture, forced labor, and medical experiments at Auschwitz, which symbolized the Holocaust's brutality.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This is a non-binding resolution with no legal force or changes to existing laws. It does not amend statutes, create new obligations, or allocate funds. Instead, it serves as an official expression of the Senate's views, building on prior recognitions like the U.N. designation of Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Potential Impacts
- On citizens: Encourages public education and awareness about the Holocaust, potentially reducing antisemitism and hate crimes by promoting tolerance. It highlights rising antisemitic incidents in the U.S., such as the 2018 Tree of Life synagogue attack, to foster community vigilance and remembrance.
- On government agencies: Supports institutions like the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in their educational role but imposes no new requirements. It may indirectly influence federal efforts to track and address hate crimes through bodies like the FBI.
- On international relations: Reinforces U.S. alignment with global Holocaust remembrance efforts (e.g., U.N. resolutions) and underscores commitment to human rights, potentially strengthening diplomatic ties with allies focused on countering antisemitism and genocide denial.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Holocaust survivors and victims' families: Directly honored, with emphasis on preserving their stories amid declining survivor numbers.
- Jewish community and other targeted groups: Benefits from renewed focus on combating antisemitism and recognizing non-Jewish victims (e.g., Romani people, Poles, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities).
- Educators and cultural institutions: Encouraged to teach Holocaust history, including through the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.
- General public and youth: Targeted for education to prevent intolerance and future genocides.
- Bipartisan lawmakers: Introduced by Senators Rosen, Lankford, Booker, Cramer, and Schumer, reflecting cross-party support.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: No enforceable effects; it is symbolic and does not alter rights, liabilities, or government operations. It aligns with First Amendment protections for free speech and assembly in remembrance activities.
- Constitutional: Reinforces values of equality and anti-discrimination under the Fourteenth Amendment by promoting awareness of historical injustices without mandating action.
- Political: Demonstrates bipartisan consensus in the Senate (agreed to without opposition) on Holocaust education and anti-antisemitism, especially amid recent global events like the October 2023 Hamas attack. It may signal U.S. leadership in international human rights discourse but could face criticism if perceived as overly focused on one historical event in a diverse society.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (4)
Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK], Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ], Sen. Cramer, Kevin [R-ND], Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Recent Actions
- 2025-01-27: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S387-388; text: CR S398)
- 2025-01-27: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.
- 2025-01-27: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Commemorating the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz extermination camp in Nazi-occupied Poland and International Holocaust Remembrance Day. — issued 2025-01-27 — PDF (4 pages)