Congressman Dan Goldman Pushes for Expanded Support for Holocaust Survivors And Education in FY 2024 Budget
Less than 50 Percent of Americans Know Key Facts on the Holocaust
Antisemitic Incidents Increased by 36 Percent in 2022, Highest Levels Since 1979
Holocaust Survivors Face Increased Risk of Depression, Poor Health Outcomes, Lack Proper Supportive Services
Washington D.C. - Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) joined congressional colleagues in requesting funding for the Holocaust Survivor Assistance Program, Holocaust Education within the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, and the Office of the Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues. These programs support the nearly 60,000 Holocaust survivors living in the United States as well as educational efforts to improve awareness and knowledge of the horrors of the Holocaust.
“In recent years it has become increasingly clear that we are not adequately passing down the lessons of the Holocaust to the next generation and those in our communities who lived through that tragedy and trauma,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “Our past informs our future, and if we treat our past as too distant to be of relevance to our lives, then we invite hatred to once again rear its ugly head. It is critical that we ensure a baseline of holocaust education in this country, as well as committing the necessary support for survivors so that we can turn the tide of hate and realize a safer, more welcoming and loving future for all of us.”
Congressman Dan Goldman joined his colleagues in requesting $10 million to fund the Holocaust Survivor Assistance Program (HSAP) at the Administration of Community Living under the Department of Health and Human Services The HSAP helps ensure that Holocaust survivors are able to live with dignity in their own homes and communities. As the nation ages, the education, research, evaluation, and public policies that support the care and approaches provided through the HSAP are now being further developed to serve other older populations impacted by trauma , including veterans, first responders, and victims of childhood and domestic abuse. The program works to prevent continuing traumas that survivors face including eviction, hunger, inadequate medical care, loneliness, social isolation, and despair.
Additionally, Congressman Goldman requested the highest possible funding for the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum to study the state of Holocaust education nationwide. Incidents of hate and antisemitism have sharply increased in the United States, with over 2,700 reported in 2022, the highest number since 1979.
Inconsistencies exist in how the Holocaust is taught across the country, including differences in curriculum and available resources for educators. Accurate data is needed to address these discrepancies and improve Holocaust education, allowing policymakers to make informed decisions and promote a more consistent and accurate understanding of the Holocaust.
Congressman Goldman has also requested $1.5 million in funding for the Office of the Special Envoy forHolocaust Issues at the Department of State. The Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues is crucial to advancing Holocaust education as well as combatting Holocaust denialism and antisemitism globally.
Congressman Goldman is committed to ensuring Holocaust education is a national priority. Earlier this year, Congressman Goldman cosponsored the Holocaust Education and Antisemitism Lessons (HEAL) Act in Congress to examine the state of Holocaust education in public schools nationwide and provide clarity on ways to improve and expand Holocaust education for future generations.
Goldman previously announced funding opportunities from the Nonprofit Security Grant Program which allows nonprofits, including houses of worship, to apply for up to $150,000 in funding for security enhancements.
###