MENG, FRANKEL, LAWLER, AND BACON INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING 80 YEARS SINCE THE LIBERATION OF AUSCHWITZ

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, U.S. Reps. Grace Meng (D-NY), Lois Frankel (D-FL), Mike Lawler (R-NY), and Don Bacon (R-NE) announced that they will introduce a bipartisan resolution in the House of Representatives commemorating 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz and International Holocaust Remembrance Day. 

The resolution honors the 6 million Jewish people who were murdered and the millions of other people from minority groups who were marked for extermination by the Nazi regime. It reaffirms the United States' shared commitment to combating antisemitism and all other forms of bigotry whenever and wherever they arise. In addition, it supports continued educational efforts to teach future generations about the Holocaust and pays tribute to Holocaust survivors who have shared their painful stories that serve as a warning to future generations. Only about 220,000 Holocaust survivors are still alive worldwide.

Nearly 1,100,000 innocent people were murdered at Auschwitz, including 960,000 Jews and thousands of other persecuted minorities. They were subject to torture, forced labor, starvation, rape, medical experiments, and separation from their loved ones. Liberated by Allied troops on January 27, 1945, the extermination camp symbolizes the extraordinary brutality of the Nazi regime and the Holocaust. 

This measure is particularly important as antisemitism continues to rise in the United States and around the world following the October 7^th Hamas terrorist attack in Israel. Since that day, there have been more than 10,000 antisemitic incidents across the country. According to the FBI, anti-Jewish hate crimes have increased by 63 percent since 2023.

“80 years ago, Allied troops liberated Auschwitz. They experienced firsthand, the Nazi regime’s evil and barbaric persecution of Jews and other minorities,” said Congresswoman Meng. “In honor of the survivors, some of which are still with us today, we must give the words “Never Again” strength and power by continuing to teach future generations about the horrors that more than six million innocent people experienced during the Holocaust. In the aftermath of the October 7th Hamas terrorist attack in Israel, we have seen antisemitism and hate crimes on the rise once again in the United States and around the world, including in New York, where Jews were the target of a majority of hate crimes in 2024. We must continue to stand firmly against hate and bigotry in all its forms any time we are confronted with it. That’s why I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing this bipartisan resolution affirming our shared commitment to combatting antisemitism for all who have experienced the terror and tragedy that comes with it.”

“Today, as we commemorate the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and observe International Holocaust Remembrance Day, we pause to honor the memory of six million Jews—along with millions of others—who perished in the unimaginable horrors of the Holocaust. Innocent people were victims of starvation, forced labor, barbaric medical experiments, torture, and unspeakable acts of violence at the hands of the Nazis. Their voices were silenced, but their stories must never be forgotten,” said Congresswoman Frankel. “This year, as the world witnesses the aftermath of Hamas’ brutal attack on Israel, we are reminded that antisemitism and Holocaust denial continue to fester at alarming levels. At this critical moment, it is more urgent than ever to keep the lessons of the Holocaust alive and to stand together—united against hate, bigotry, and ignorance. We owe it to the victims and survivors to ensure that such atrocities never happen again.”

"Eighty years ago today, Allied troops freed the remaining prisoners from Auschwitz, marking the beginning of the end of one of humanity's darkest chapters," said Congressman Lawler. "As we introduce legislation to mark this solemn anniversary, may we all reaffirm our commitment to preserving the memory of those who lost their lives in the Holocaust and to fighting the antisemitism that enabled those horrors. Never again."

“When Allied troops set foot in Auschwitz to free the prisoners, many of them broke down and cried because of the gut-wrenching, inhumane conditions that the prisoners were in, at the hands of Nazis,” said Congressman Bacon. “We can never forget what happened to the six million Jews who were starved, beaten, executed, and experimented on, especially with the rise of antisemitism across the world, and right here in America. The best way to honor these victims and survivors is to make sure future generations learn this ugly part of history so it can remain just that…a permanent part of history and not a part of our future.”   

Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV), James Lankford (R-OK), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Kevin Cramer (R-ND) introduced a bipartisan resolution commemorating the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, which passed in the Senate today.

Meng led the introduction of a similar bipartisan resolution marking the 75^thanniversary. 

The text of the resolution can be found here.