Fort Ontario Holocaust Refugee Shelter National Historical Park Establishment Act
- Bill Number
- S. 432
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-02-05: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- Last Updated
- 2026-01-21T06:35:42Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The Fort Ontario Holocaust Refugee Shelter National Historical Park Establishment Act aims to create a new unit within the National Park System in New York to preserve and share the history of 982 World War II refugees who lived at Fort Ontario from August 1944 to February 1946. This site highlights their stories as Holocaust survivors and refugees, ensuring their experiences are protected and interpreted for current and future generations.
Key Provisions
- Establishment of the Park: The Secretary of the Interior (the head of the U.S. Department of the Interior) will establish the Fort Ontario Holocaust Refugee Shelter National Historical Park once enough land or property rights within the proposed boundaries (as shown on a specific map dated September 2024) are acquired to make it a workable park unit. The Secretary must publish a notice in the Federal Register (an official government journal) within 30 days of this decision.
- Boundaries and Map: The park's boundaries will include all acquired lands, with the official map available for public review at National Park Service offices.
- Administration: The park will be managed by the Secretary under general National Park System rules, which include laws on preservation, public use, and resource protection (e.g., sections of Title 54 of the U.S. Code covering park management and visitor services).
- The Secretary can form cooperative agreements with New York State, local governments, or private groups to offer educational programs, interpret historical sites, and restore important cultural resources on non-federal lands near the park.
- These agreements must ensure reasonable public access to any assisted non-federal lands.
- Land Acquisition: The Secretary can obtain land within the boundaries through donations, purchases with donated or federal funds, or exchanges. However, land owned by New York State or its local governments can only be acquired via donation.
- Management Plan: Within three years of receiving funding, the Secretary must develop a detailed plan for the park's operations, in consultation with New York State, following standard federal guidelines for national parks.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill adds a new national historical park to the National Park System, expanding the network of federally protected historic sites. It does not alter existing park laws but applies them to this specific location, introducing tailored rules for land acquisition (e.g., donation-only for state-owned land) and cooperative efforts with non-federal partners to interpret and restore nearby resources.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The National Park Service (part of the Department of the Interior) will gain responsibility for managing, funding, and staffing the park, potentially requiring new resources for preservation and visitor facilities. This could increase federal spending on historical education.
- Citizens: Local communities in New York and visitors nationwide will benefit from enhanced access to educational programs about WWII refugees and Holocaust history, promoting awareness of immigration and human rights themes. It may boost tourism and local economies near Oswego, New York.
- International Relations: By commemorating Holocaust refugees, the park could strengthen U.S. ties with global efforts to remember WWII atrocities, potentially aiding diplomatic outreach on refugee issues, though it has no direct foreign policy mandates.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Government: The Secretary of the Interior and National Park Service, responsible for establishment, management, and funding.
- State and Local Entities: New York State and its political subdivisions (e.g., Oswego County), which may donate land and partner on education and restoration.
- Public and Private Groups: Non-profit organizations, historians, and educators interested in WWII and Holocaust history, who can collaborate via agreements.
- General Public: Especially descendants of the refugees, students, and tourists seeking historical sites focused on human resilience and U.S. refugee policy.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The bill aligns with existing federal authority under the National Park Service Organic Act (part of Title 54, U.S. Code) to designate and manage historic sites, emphasizing voluntary land acquisition to avoid eminent domain (forced taking of property). Cooperative agreements promote flexibility without overriding state property rights.
- Constitutional: No direct challenges; it supports the federal government's role in preserving national history under the Property Clause of the Constitution (Article IV, Section 3), which allows Congress to manage federal lands.
- Political: Introduced by Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer (both Democrats from New York), it reflects bipartisan interest in historical preservation but focuses on local heritage. Passage could set a precedent for designating more WWII-related sites, potentially influencing debates on immigration history and federal park expansions amid budget constraints.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Cosponsors (1)
Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Recent Actions
- 2025-02-05: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- 2025-02-05: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Fort Ontario Holocaust Refugee Shelter National Historical Park Establishment Act — issued 2025-02-05 — PDF (6 pages)