[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 29 (Thursday, February 15, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E366]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




INTRODUCTION OF THE SIMON WIESENTHAL HOLOCAUST EDUCATION ASSISTANCE ACT

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                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 15, 2007

  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, today I am reintroducing the 
Simon Wiesenthal Holocaust Education Assistance Act. Through grants to 
qualifying education organizations, I hope to promote awareness of the 
Holocaust and the devastating effects of hate crimes. As the 
generations who survived the Holocaust pass away, we need to make sure 
that new generations know the horrors of that terrible time. We need to 
make sure that those who would deny the existence of the Holocaust do 
not have the ability to rewrite history.
  This bill, named after the honored Holocaust survivor who spent his 
life's work devoted to seeking justice for the six million Jews who 
were murdered by the Nazis, seeks to provide competitive grants for 
educational organizations working to teach today's youth the lessons of 
the Holocaust. Through grants from the Department of Education, 
Holocaust organization programs that are designed to specifically 
improve the awareness of the Holocaust through such means as classes, 
seminars, conferences, educational materials, and teacher training, can 
apply for federal funds to assist in carrying out these initiatives.
  Several states now require that the Holocaust be taught in public 
school curriculums. Though there are resources such as the Holocaust 
Memorial Museum here in Washington, DC, and similar museums in a few 
other cities, many teachers are still left with the challenge of 
teaching a complicated subject without the expertise. Many Holocaust 
educational organizations have risen to meet this demand, but their 
resources are limited, hindering their outreach. This bill will provide 
more resources to these organizations, who have the expertise and 
knowledge of the tragic events during the Nazi era, to teach more 
students, teachers and communities the dangers of inter-group conflict 
and the importance of tolerance in our society.

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