The "Armenian Genocide Education Act" directs the Librarian of Congress to develop and promote educational resources about the Armenian Genocide for schools nationwide.
Dina Titus
Representative
NV-1
The "Armenian Genocide Education Act" directs the Librarian of Congress to develop and implement a program to support Armenian Genocide education by creating resources, offering teacher training, and encouraging the inclusion of these resources in school curriculums. The Act authorizes the Librarian of Congress to collect and manage donations to support these activities and requires an annual report to Congress on the program's progress. It also authorizes $2,000,000 in appropriations for fiscal year 2026 and each of the following four fiscal years to implement the Act.
Library of Congress Tapped to Launch Armenian Genocide Education Program with $10 Million Funding Over Five Years
This bill, the "Armenian Genocide Education Act," directs the Librarian of Congress to establish a national program focused on teaching about the Armenian Genocide, defined as the Ottoman Turkey's state-sponsored atrocities against Armenians and other Christian minorities from 1915-1923. The core goal, as laid out in Section 4, is to boost public understanding, combat denial and distortion of these historical events, and provide educational resources nationwide. It authorizes $2 million per year for five fiscal years, starting in 2026, to get this done.
Building the Educational Toolkit
So, what does this program actually involve? Section 4 tasks the Librarian of Congress with several key activities. Think of it as building a comprehensive educational toolkit. This includes creating and distributing materials – from digital resources and print publications to potentially even traveling exhibits – designed to explain the history and lessons of the Armenian Genocide. It also means developing effective teaching strategies and offering professional development opportunities like workshops and training sessions for educators who want to incorporate this history into their classrooms. There's also a mandate to maintain a dedicated section on the Library of Congress website (Section 6) packed with these resources and best practices for teaching the subject effectively.
Spreading the Word: Partnerships and Priorities
The legislation isn't just about creating materials; it's about getting them used. Section 5 allows the Librarian to partner with schools, local educational agencies, and other eligible organizations to implement the program. When deciding who to partner with, the bill gives priority to groups that don't currently have an Armenian Genocide education program in place. This suggests an aim to broaden the reach of this education into new areas. Furthermore, Section 7 allows the Library to accept private donations specifically earmarked for this program, potentially supplementing the $10 million authorized over five years (Section 9). To ensure transparency, the Librarian will need to submit an annual report to Congress detailing the program's activities (Section 8).