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On International Holocaust Remembrance Day, U.S. Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick introduced the Holocaust Education and Antisemitism Lessons (HEAL) Act. The bipartisan legislation, co-sponsored by Representatives Josh Gottheimer, Michael McCaul, Dan Goldman, Young Kim, and Haley Stevens, mandates a comprehensive study by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum on Holocaust education in public schools.

The introduction of this bill comes amidst concerns over declining awareness of the Holocaust. A recent survey indicated that 20% of respondents had never heard of the Holocaust, with less than half recognizing its historical accuracy. The HEAL Act aims to assess current educational efforts and identify gaps in teaching about the Holocaust.

"The alarming increase in antisemitic rhetoric and violence... serves as a serious warning about the dangers of allowing history’s most important lessons to fade away," stated Congressman Fitzpatrick. He emphasized the importance of educating future generations to combat hatred and bigotry.

Congressman Gottheimer highlighted the need for action against rising antisemitism: "We cannot — and we must not — ever ignore the stunning rise in antisemitism... That is why I’m proud to be reintroducing the HEAL Act."

The HEAL Act seeks to determine which states require Holocaust education, assess instructional materials used, and evaluate how schools measure student learning outcomes related to the Holocaust.

Endorsements for the HEAL Act include organizations such as ADL (Anti-Defamation League), American Jewish Committee (AJC), B’nai B’rith International, and Jewish Federations of North America. These groups emphasize that education is crucial in combating antisemitism.

Jonathan Greenblatt from ADL remarked on alarming gaps in knowledge: "Holocaust education is not just about preserving history—it fosters empathy... ADL applauds Reps. Gottheimer, McCaul, Goldman, Fitzpatrick, Stevens, and Kim for so quickly reintroducing [the HEAL Act]."

As antisemitism incidents reach unprecedented levels across the U.S., proponents argue that improving Holocaust education is essential for addressing these challenges. The bill has been presented as an urgent response to growing ignorance about this critical historical event.