Holocaust-Genocide Education bill passes House

On Holocaust Remembrance Day, Yom ha-Shoah, the Rhode Island House of Representatives unanimously passed HR 7488, An Act Relating to Education – Holocaust-Genocide Education. The bill “requires the inclusion of instruction on Holocaust and genocide studies in the curriculum for all middle and high school students.” When Rep. Katherine Kazarian, the prime sponsor of the bill, asked for support, virtually all members of the House stood to second the bill. Also sponsoring the bill were Reps. Mia Ackerman, Arthur Corvese, Jared Nunes and Aaron Regunberg. 

The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration. Senate bill S 2396 is similar to the House bill. The prime sponsor is Sen. Gayle Golden. Other sponsors of the bill are Sens. Hanna Gallo, Josh Miller and Leonidas Raptakis.

A coalition of groups has been working diligently on this legislation. This includes members of the Community Relations Council of the Jewish Alliance of Greater R.I. and the Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center, as well as members of the Armenian community and the R.I. State Council of Churches.

A resolution honoring Holocaust Remembrance Day was unanimously approved as well. The prime sponsor was Rep. Ackerman. Rep. Regunberg was also a sponsor. The Senate also passed a similar resolution with Sens. Goldin and Miller as sponsors.

MARTY COOPER is the community relations director for the Jewish Alliance.