WASHINGTON (JTA) — Lawmakers in both houses of the U.S. Congress introduced a bill that would budget $10 million for Holocaust education over five years.
"This critical legislation will serve to honor the memory of those who perished during one of the darkest chapters in human history by educating future generations about the dangers of intolerance and hatred," U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) said in a statement he issued May 6 jointly with U.S. Reps. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) and Gary Ackerman, New York Democrats who have introduced identical legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The law is named for Simon Wiesenthal, the late Nazi hunter.
"From remembering those who perished to learning from the past, it is critical to preserve and expand Holocaust education programs," said Ackerman, a former public school teacher. "It is imperative that future generations are taught the facts and history of the Holocaust so that the lessons from this dark chapter in human history are never, ever forgotten."
