WASHINGTON – Tonight, on the 75^th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp, Congressman Dave Joyce (OH-14) voted for H.R. 943, the Never Again Education Act. This bipartisan legislation would give schools and teachers across the United States the resources and training they need to incorporate Holocaust education into their classrooms. As a cosponsor of the Never Again Education Act, Dave spoke in support of the legislation on the House floor prior to the vote. You can watch his full remarks here.

“As the number of living Holocaust survivors declines, studies show the Holocaust is fading from public memory,” said Dave. “Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of anti-Semitism, which continues to threaten one of the core pillars of our democracy, the Freedom of Religion. However, recent anti-Semitic attacks have made it clear that simply responding to this hatred is not enough. We must work to prevent it from ever taking root in the first place. That’s why I was proud to vote for the Never Again Education Act. By teaching our children about one of the cruelest times in human history, we can help eradicate the hatred that fuels anti-Semitic violence.”

A recent survey found that two-thirds of millennials cannot identify what Auschwitz was or name a single concentration camp, and over one-third of all Americans surveyed believe that fewer than two million Jewish people were killed during the Holocaust. It is clear that Congress must ensure the stories of Holocaust survivors live on, especially in light of the recent rise in anti-Semitic violence. 

In 2018, 11 people were killed at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh in the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in our nation’s history. Just last month, a California synagogue was vandalized, a machete-wielding assailant terrorized a Hanukkah celebration in New York and a gunman targeted a kosher grocery store in Jersey City. That’s not to mention the atrocities law enforcement have been able to prevent, including a violent attack in Northeast Ohio against the Youngstown Jewish Community Center.

“My father was one of the brave American soldiers who risked his life to defeat Nazism during World War II and I am proud to continue his fight against anti-Semitism here in Congress,” said Dave. “I stand with Ohio’s Jewish community against all anti-Semitic threats and remain committed to ensuring all Americans can practice their religion peacefully without fear.”

In addition to voting for the Never Again Education Act, Dave previously joined 397 of his colleagues on both sides in the aisle in voting to oppose the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. As a member of the House Appropriation Committee, Dave has also repeatedly supported funding for the Non-Profit Security Grant Program, which provides at-risk organizations with funding for security enhancements. This funding can help houses of worship, such as synagogues, as well as community centers and schools save lives when dealing with threats to public safety. 

To read Dave’s op-ed published in the Cleveland Jewish News about how Congress needs to continue to combat anti-Semitism, click here.

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