CAM Commends the US House of Representatives for Passing the Never Again Education Act

New York, NY (January 28, 2020) – The Combat Anti-Semitism (CAM) Movement commends and supports the US House of Representatives for passing the Never Again Education Act with an overwhelming bipartisan majority, on International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

The Never Again Education Act would provide an additional $2M in funding to the US Holocaust Memorial Museum annually for five years to enhance efforts to promote quality, sustainable Holocaust education. The legislation would create an online Holocaust-education repository of resources for educators to teach middle-school and high school students about the Holocaust to promote the importance of preventing genocide, hate, and bigotry against any group of people. The bill would also establish a 12-member Holocaust Education Advisory Board to carry out the responsibilities under the bill.

“We have learned over time that it’s not enough to simply condemn these attacks and disgusting actions,” said Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), who co-introduced the bill with Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.). “We also need to get to the root causes of the hatred, denial, intolerance that drives these acts. Studies have shown that education is one of the best ways to knock down the lies and the denials and foster mutual understanding and respect.”

According to a recent Pew Research study, only 45% of Americans are aware that 6 million Jews died in the Holocaust. Further, a 2019 Claims Conference survey found that 66% of American millennials are unable to state the significance of Auschwitz. Given these shocking statistics, and the recent resurgence of anti-Jewish hate from across the ideological spectrum, it is more important than ever to strength Holocaust education across the United States and around the world. We call upon the United States Senate to pass the Senate version of the Never Again Education Act without delay to help ensure that “Never Again” is put into action.

Combat Anti-Semitism Movement Director Sacha Roytman-Dratwa: “Within living memory of the atrocities of the Holocaust, we are witnessing a dangerous resurgence of anti-Semitism across the world. With each passing year, the ability to bear witness is diminished with the passing of thousands of survivors. It is more important than ever to strengthen Holocaust education. The Holocaust did not begin with the death camps, but with unchecked bigotry and hate-filled indoctrination. The more we can learn from the past, the more we can build a better future. I applaud Rep. Carolyn Maloney and Rep. Elise Stefanik for their important work on the Never Again Education Act in the House and look forward to seeing the Senate pass S.2085 soon.”