What Happened?
A New York fort that sheltered nearly 1,000 Holocaust refugees during World War II could become a national historical park. The House Subcommittee on Federal Lands held a hearing Sept. 16 to consider nine bills on public lands, including H.R. 1031, which would establish the Fort Ontario Holocaust Refugee Shelter National Historical Park in Oswego, N.Y. [](#ngr-54193187-4050-4475-85cf-12332af2e97d)
The National Park Service's 2024 special resource study found the site met all four criteria for inclusion in the national park system: national significance, suitability, feasibility, and a need for direct federal management. The proposed federal footprint covers just over two acres, including the Safe Haven Museum and three nearby buildings.
Why Does it Matter to Me?
Fort Ontario is the only place in the U.S. where Holocaust refugees were officially sheltered during World War II. Bringing it into the national park system would give the site federal resources, staff, and visibility it does not currently have under state management.
The rest of the fort would stay under New York State control. Any state-owned land added to the federal site could only come through donation, not purchase, according to the bill.
Both Sides, Now?
Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY) testified that Fort Ontario sheltered 982 refugees from 18 countries beginning in August 1944. She also noted the Senate had already passed related legislation by unanimous consent as part of S. 3490. 3490. Oswego County Clerk Terry Wilbur testified in support of preserving the site's legacy.
The hearing also covered eight other bills with varying degrees of federal involvement. H.R. 2323 would add roughly 6,100 acres to Big Bend National Park in Texas through donation or exchange, while H.R. 8276 would recognize the Quindaro town site in Kansas as a national historic landmark while leaving its management to local authorities. S. 1377 would require Theodore Roosevelt National Park to maintain at least 150 genetically diverse feral horses without harming the park's natural resources.
What Happens Next?
For H.R. 1031 to become law, it must clear the full House Natural Resources Committee, pass a vote of the full House, pass the Senate, and be signed by the president. No full committee vote or House floor vote is currently scheduled. The Senate has previously passed related legislation by unanimous consent, which could accelerate the path forward if the House acts.
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This article was generated by AI pulling from data. Each article is edited by an editor for accuracy and clarity.
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