Never Again Education Act

To authorize the Secretary of Education to award grants to eligible entities to carry out educational programs about the Holocaust, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Never Again Education Act 2. Findings The Congress finds the following: (1) The United States has demonstrated a commitment to remembrance and education about the Holocaust through bilateral relationships and engagement in international organizations such as the United Nations (UN) and the International Holocaust Remembrance Association (IHRA); the United States works to promote Holocaust education as a means to understand the importance of democratic principles, use and abuse of power, and to raise awareness about the importance of genocide prevention today. (2) The Congress has played a critical role in preserving the memory of the Holocaust and promoting awareness, including by authorizing the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum as an independent establishment of the Federal Government to ensure that the study of the Holocaust become part of the curriculum in every school system in the country (3) The Congress has gone on record in support of expanded Holocaust education to increase awareness about Holocaust history, counter prejudice and discrimination, and enhance efforts to teach its universal lessons about human behavior and societal cohesion. (4) More than 70 years after the conclusion of World War II, with the decreasing number of eyewitnesses and growing distance of students and their families from this history, it is important to institutionalize education about the events of the Holocaust such as the Nazis’ racist ideology, propaganda, and plan to lead a state to war and, with their collaborators, kill millions—including the systematic murder of 6,000,000 Jewish people; as well as the persecution and murder of millions of others in the name of racial purity, political, ideological, and behavioral grounds, among them Roma, the disabled, the Slavic people, Communists, Socialists, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and homosexuals. (5) As intolerance, antisemitism, bigotry, and all forms of hate are promoted by hate groups, Holocaust education provides a context to learn about the danger of what can happen when hate goes unchallenged and there is indifference in the face of the oppression of others. Learning how and why the Holocaust happened is an important component of the education of citizens of the United States. (6) Today, those who deny that the Holocaust occurred or distort the true nature of the Holocaust continue to find forums, especially online; this denial and distortion dishonors those who were persecuted, and murdered. This makes it even more of a national imperative to educate students in the United States so that they may explore the lessons that the Holocaust provides for all people, sensitize communities to the circumstances that gave rise to the Holocaust, and help youth be less susceptible to the falsehood of Holocaust denial and distortion and to the destructive messages of hate that arise from Holocaust denial and distortion. (7) Currently, 8 States (California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island) require by law that schools teach students about the Holocaust; more schools and teachers can and should deliver quality Holocaust education. While there are thriving professional development programs across the United States delivered by Holocaust education centers, such as members of the Association of Holocaust Organizations, many students still have little exposure to education about the events of the Holocaust and its relevance to their lives. This is, in part, due to the many financial and logistical barriers to getting resources from Holocaust education centers to students in the classroom. (8) The Federal Government, especially the Department of Education, has a role to play in promoting resources and training that can assist teachers and educational institutions to incorporate the study of the Holocaust into their schools, to help ensure that students have access to accurate and engaging historical information about the Holocaust. The Department of Education is well-positioned to assist Holocaust education centers in overcoming many of the barriers to expanding Holocaust education, which will allow more students to learn the lessons of the Holocaust. 3. Definitions In this Act: (1) Eligible entity The term eligible entity (A) a local educational agency (as defined in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7801 (B) an organization eligible to receive funds under part B of title IV of such Act ( 20 U.S.C. 7171 (C) a secondary school (as defined in section 8101 of such Act ( 20 U.S.C. 7801 (2) Antisemitism The term antisemitism (3) Holocaust The term the Holocaust racial inferiority (4) Holocaust denial and distortion The term Holocaust denial and distortion (5) Holocaust education center The term Holocaust education center (6) Holocaust education program The term Holocaust education program (A) has as its specific and primary purpose to improve awareness and understanding of the Holocaust and educate students on the lessons of the Holocaust as a means to raise awareness about the importance of preventing genocide, hate, and bigotry against any group of people; (B) is delivered to students enrolled in middle grades or high school as both such terms are defined in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965; (C) uses stories, testimonies, photos, diaries and other educational tools to support understanding rather than for shock value or sensationalism; and (D) furnishes one or more of the following: (i) Educational materials that are age- and grade-appropriate. (ii) Student and school-based activities, including field trips. (iii) The hiring of professional Holocaust educators to lead programming. (iv) Teacher training. (v) Programming that includes the following subjects where appropriate in instruction: (I) The breadth of the history of the Holocaust, including, the Third Reich dictatorship, concentration camp system, persecution of Jews and non-Jews, Jewish and non-Jewish resistance, and post-World War II trials. (II) Antisemitism, racism, and the abridgement of human and civil rights. (vi) Instruction in the content of Holocaust education that includes— (I) presentation of historically accurate information; (II) correct terminology, vocabulary, and labels, and encouraging students to use this vocabulary; and (III) primary documents, including personal testimony and sound historical research from respected resources. (vii) Supplementary resources required for teacher training, including transportation for teachers to and from training programs, housing at training programs, payment for substitute teachers while teachers are at training, and transportation of trainers to schools to provide training. (viii) Goods or services designed to improve awareness and understanding of the Holocaust. (7) Secretary The term Secretary 4. Program authorized (a) Fund established There is established in the general fund of the Treasury a separate account which shall be known as the Holocaust Education Assistance Program Fund (b) Acceptance of donations In furtherance of the purposes of this Act, the Secretary is authorized to accept donations of funds and in-kind contributions. Any funds donated under this subsection, and any proceeds from the sales of other property received as gifts or bequests pursuant to this subsection, shall be deposited in the Holocaust Education Assistance Program Fund. (c) Limitation A donation may not be accepted under subsection (b) in exchange for a commitment to the donor on the part of the Secretary or which attaches conditions inconsistent with applicable laws and regulations or that is conditioned upon or will require the expenditure of appropriated funds that are not available to the Secretary, or which compromises a criminal or civil position of the United States or any of its departments or agencies or the administrative authority of any agency of the United States. The Secretary shall ensure that each donation is subject to an agreement that contains provisions setting forth the criteria to be used in determining whether the acceptance of a donation is prohibited because the donation would reflect unfavorably upon the ability of the Department, or any official or employee of the Department, to carry out its responsibilities or official duties in a fair and objective manner, or would compromise the integrity or the appearance of the integrity of its programs or any official or employee involved in those programs. (d) Use of funds (1) In general The Secretary is authorized to use funds from the Holocaust Education Assistance Program Fund— (A) to award grants to eligible entities to carry out Holocaust education programs; (B) to conduct periodic regional workshops, in partnership with Holocaust education centers when and where appropriate, to provide teachers with technical assistance on how to structure curricula to incorporate Holocaust education in a manner that satisfies State education standards, as described in section 1111(a) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1111(a) (C) to cover administrative costs associated with fundraising authorized under this Act; and (D) to cover administrative costs associated with administering the grants and creating and maintaining the online Holocaust education repository of resources, defined in section 5. (2) Limitation At least 90 percent of funds expended from the Holocaust Education Assistance Program Fund shall be expended to award grants to eligible entities to carry out proposed Holocaust education programs. (e) Applications The Secretary may award a grant under this Act only to an eligible entity that has submitted an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and based on such competitive criteria as the Secretary may require. 5. Online Holocaust education repository of resources (a) Website The Secretary shall create and maintain a Holocaust education program website within an already existing site or, if necessary, create a new site, containing Holocaust education program resources for middle grades and high schools. The website shall facilitate connections between eligible entities and Holocaust education centers, institutions, and foundations displayed on the website to gain expertise in content and pedagogy for instructing the subject matter appropriately and effectively. The website and resources shall be made available to all eligible entities and all Holocaust education centers. The Secretary shall market the website along with the Holocaust Education Assistance Program to State and local educational agencies and all eligible entities. (b) Information distribution The Secretary shall distribute information about the Holocaust Education Assistance Program and the Holocaust Education Website to each State department of education and to any local educational agency, individual school, individual teacher, or Holocaust education center that requests the information. (c) Best practices The information distributed by the Secretary shall include best practices for educators on how to incorporate materials and resources on Holocaust education into a curriculum. 6. Holocaust Education Advisory Board (a) In general In carrying out this Act, the Secretary shall establish an advisory board, which shall be known as the Holocaust Education Advisory Board (b) Membership The Holocaust Education Advisory Board shall consist of 12 members, as follows: (1) Finance directors Three finance directors, with experience in nonprofit fundraising, who shall be responsible for overseeing fundraising efforts for the Holocaust Education Assistance Fund. These individuals may not be engaged in fundraising for an existing Holocaust education center in a formal or professional capacity at the time of their appointment. (2) National holocaust education representatives Four national Holocaust education representatives, with educational and professional experience in Holocaust education, who shall represent leading national holocaust education centers, such as the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, the Simon Wiesenthal Center, the USC Shoah Foundation, or the Anti-Defamation League. (3) Regional holocaust education representatives Four regional Holocaust education representatives, with educational and professional experience in Holocaust education, who shall represent regional Holocaust education centers. (4) Chairman One Chairman of the Board, with professional experience in both Holocaust education and nonprofit fundraising. (c) Appointment Members of the Holocaust Education Advisory Board shall be appointed as follows: (1) 3 members shall be appointed by the majority leader of the Senate. (2) 3 members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. (3) 3 members shall be appointed by the minority leader of the Senate. (4) 3 members shall be appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives. (d) Terms Each member of the Holocaust Education Advisory Board shall serve a 4-year term, except that 4 members shall serve an initial term of 6 years. (e) Duties The Holocaust Education Advisory Board— (1) shall advise the Secretary on developing competitive criteria and content of application as described in section 4(e); (2) shall advise the Secretary on the content that is displayed on the Holocaust education program website required under section 5; (3) shall lead the effort to solicit donations for the Holocaust Education Assistance Program Fund; and (4) shall submit an annual fundraising plan to the Secretary prior to the board receiving any funds for administrative costs associated with fundraising. (f) Personnel The Holocaust Education Advisory Board may be granted funds by the Secretary from the Holocaust Education Assistance Program Fund to employ and compensate an executive director and any other additional personnel necessary for fundraising efforts. Any individual employed by the Holocaust Education Advisory Board shall not, by virtue of such employment, be considered a Federal employee for the purpose of any law governing Federal employment. (g) Limitations (1) In general The Holocaust Education Advisory Board shall not be an agency or instrumentality of the Federal Government, and officers, employees, and members of the board of the Holocaust Education Advisory Board shall not be officers or employees of the Federal Government. No funds from the Holocaust Education Assistance Fund may be paid as compensation to members of the Holocaust Education Advisory Board for their service. (2) Exception An individual who is employed by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum shall be eligible for appointment to the Holocaust Education Advisory Board as a national Holocaust education representative. (h) Travel expenses A member of the Advisory Board shall be allowed a per diem allowance for travel expenses, to be paid for from the Holocaust Education Assistance Program Fund, at rates consistent with those authorized under subchapter I of chapter 57 (i) Technical assistance On request of the Holocaust Education Advisory Board, the head of a Federal agency may provide technical assistance to the Holocaust Education Advisory Board, but no Federal employee may be detailed to the Holocaust Education Advisory Board. (j) Vacancies A vacancy in the Holocaust Education Advisory Board— (1) shall not affect the powers of the Holocaust Education Advisory Board; and (2) shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment was made. (k) Applicability of FACA The Holocaust Education Advisory Board shall be treated as an advisory committee subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.). 7. Use of grant funds (a) In general Each eligible entity that receives a grant under this Act shall use the grant funds to provide students with a Holocaust education program in accordance with the following requirements: (1) All resources shall be used for the purposes of educating students on the history of the Holocaust and the relevant lessons that can be learned from the Holocaust in dealing with modern day issues of genocide, hate, and bigotry against any group of people. This can include the teaching of other genocides along with the Holocaust. (2) Funds may only be used to carry out the Holocaust education program for which the grant was provided. (3) Any other limitation on use of funds established by the Secretary, in consultation with the Holocaust Education Advisory Board. (b) Grant period Grants awarded under this section shall be for a period of 1 year. (c) Requirements An eligible entity receiving a grant shall comply with the following requirements: (1) The eligible entity shall, throughout the period that the institution receives and uses the funding, continue to be an eligible entity. (2) The eligible entity shall ensure the funding is used to supplement, and not supplant, non-Federal funds that would otherwise be available to the eligible entity to carry out the Holocaust education program for which the grant was provided. (d) Priority In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that do not currently offer any Holocaust education programming. (e) Competitive criteria The Secretary shall establish competitive criteria for use in awarding grants under this Act not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act. The competitive criteria shall be displayed on the Department’s Holocaust Education Website along with all necessary forms and instructions to allow eligible entities to apply for grants from the Holocaust Education Assistance Program Fund. 8. Review The Secretary shall review at least annually each eligible entity receiving a grant under this Act to determine the extent to which the eligible entity may not be in compliance with the provisions of this Act and the regulations issued under this Act. The Secretary shall consult the Advisory Board as needed for uncertain cases. The Secretary shall also establish a process for the Advisory Board to submit instances of suspected noncompliance for programs supported by these funds, and the Secretary shall review any grant that is submitted by the Advisory Board for suspected noncompliance not later than 60 days after the Advisory Board submits a program for review by the Secretary, and the Secretary shall notify the grantee of potential noncompliance. 9. Annual report (a) In general Not later than February 1 of each year, the Secretary shall submit to the Congress a report describing the activities carried out under this Act. The report shall include the following information: (1) The amount of money donated to the Holocaust Education Assistance Program Fund. (2) The amount of money allocated in grants from the fund. (3) The number of eligible entities using the grant funding to offer instruction in Holocaust education. (4) A description of the manner in which eligible entity are offering instruction in Holocaust education. (5) The number of hours instruction is offered, the grade levels that such instruction is offered and the course within which such instruction is integrated. (b) Additional information The report shall also contain any other related information that the Secretary considers appropriate.

Summary: Never Again Education Act This bill authorizes the Holocaust Education Assistance Program Fund for the Department of Education (ED) to: (1) award grants to eligible entities to carry out Holocaust education programs, and (2) conduct periodic regional workshops to provide teachers with technical assistance on how to incorporate Holocaust education within state and local education standards. The fund may accept donations and in-kind contributions. ED shall: (1) create and maintain a Holocaust education program website containing resources for middle grades and high schools; and (2) establish the Holocaust Education Advisory Board to advise on developing application criteria for the fund's grants, advise on content for the Holocaust education program website, and lead efforts to solicit donations for the fund.