House unanimously designates Jan. 27 as Holocaust Remembrance Day, members warn against rising antisemitism

HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania House on Feb. 5 unanimously adopted House Resolution 22, designating Jan. 27, 2025, as International Holocaust Remembrance Day in the Commonwealth.

Representative Khan of Philadelphia spoke in favor of the resolution and recalled personal ties to survivors and the rise in antisemitism: "It's important that we stand together and reject hatred because an attack on 1 religion is attack on all of our religions," he said. Representative Gillen, chair of Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness, described threats received by a local museum project and quoted threatening language his staff had received about a holocaust gallery in Berks County.

Representative Marcel (Bucks County), a co-prime sponsor, said an Economist poll showing one‑fifth of U.S. adults ages 18–29 believe the Holocaust is a myth underscored the need for continued education. "If we do not educate, we risk forgetting. And if we do not remember, we risk repeating history," she said.

The clerk recorded 202 ayes and 0 nays; the resolution was adopted. Supporters said the annual recognition underscores a shared obligation in the Commonwealth to combat hatred and misinformation and to honor victims.

Representative Gillen also recounted that local organizers received threatening messages tied to a proposed Holocaust museum and said the site had required law‑enforcement attention. The floor remarks combined memorialization with contemporary warnings about rising prejudice, and lawmakers urged education and continued vigilance.

The resolution will be transmitted according to House procedures; it is a formal expression of the chamber rather than a law.