House Reauthorizes Holocaust Education Bill in Response to Increasing Antisemitism
According to the FBI, anti-Semitic hate crimes saw a staggering increase of 63 percent from 2022 to 2023.
On December 17, the House of Representatives passed a bill aimed at reauthorizing legislation that supports Holocaust education, forwarding it to President Joe Biden for his approval amidst a notable rise in anti-Semitism.
The Never Again Education Reauthorization Act of 2023 was approved with a vote of 402-12.
Prior to this, the Senate unanimously consigned the bill in July, meaning there were no objections from any senator, thus negating the need for a recorded vote.
Furthermore, it allocated $2 million annually over a four-year initiative from the 2021 fiscal year for the museum to support educators in teaching about the horrific events that led to the deaths of 6 million Jews and 5 million others.
The reauthorization bill will continue to appropriate the same funding through the 2030 fiscal year.
Related Stories
This legislation arises amidst a growing trend of anti-Semitism following the Hamas terror attack on October 7, 2023, which was the largest single-day massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. The attack resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 individuals and hundreds more taken hostage into Gaza by Hamas.
In response, Israel initiated military operations against Hamas in Gaza and previously engaged in confrontations with Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Before the vote, members from both parties emphasized the significance of reauthorizing the Never Again Education Act.