Claudia Tenney (R-NY)
Fort Ontario Holocaust Refugee Shelter National Historical Park Establishment Act
A Republican bill with 2 Democratic cosponsors · See all 8 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill aims to establish the Fort Ontario Holocaust Refugee Shelter National Historical Park in New York as part of the National Park System. The purpose is to preserve and interpret the history of 982 World War II refugees who stayed at Fort Ontario from August 1944 to February 1946. The park will be established once the Secretary of the Interior determines enough land has been acquired to make it manageable. The Secretary will manage the park and may enter into agreements with public or private entities for education and restoration. Land can be acquired through donation, exchange, or purchase, though State-owned land can only be acquired via donation.
Yes· 3 of 16
- Scored +3
Would immigrants be better off under this?
Honors the history and sanctuary provided to refugees and immigrants during WWII.
- Scored +3
Would students be better off under this?
Creates a primary source educational resource for students studying the Holocaust and WWII.
- Scored +2
Would children be better off under this?
Provides educational opportunities and historical sites for children to visit and learn.
The opposite
- Scored -1
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill authorizes the purchase of land and ongoing administrative costs for a new park unit.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Preservation of History: The bill preserves and protects resources related to the stories of 982 World War II refugees for present and future generations (Section 3(a)(2)).
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Educational Opportunities: The Secretary can make cooperative agreements with the State or private entities to provide educational and interpretive services (Section 3(b)(2)(A)).
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Resource Restoration: The bill allows for agreements to identify, interpret, and restore historic or cultural resources, even those on non-Federal land near the park (Section 3(b)(2)(B)).
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Public Access: Agreements involving non-Federal land must ensure there is reasonable public access (Section 3(b)(2)(C)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts for individuals or groups are explicitly mentioned in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would immigrants be better off under this? — Honors the history and sanctuary provided to refugees and immigrants during WWII. Would students be better off under this? — Creates a primary source educational resource for students studying the Holocaust and WWII. Would business owners be better off under this? — Local business owners may benefit from increased tourism and park visitor spending. Would children be better off under this? — Provides educational opportunities and historical sites for children to visit and learn. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Brings federal investment and tourism to a specific local area in New York state. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Provides educational resources and historical awareness. Would people in middle age be better off under this? — Creates leisure and educational opportunities. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Provides cultural and historical sites for visitation.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests? — Integrates specific historic lands into the structured management of the National Park System. Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — Designating land as a National Historical Park generally protects it from industrial development. Does this invest in rural communities? — Increases visibility and tourism in the specific New York location where the park is established.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to grow the economy? — Tourism associated with new national parks generally boosts local economic activity. Does this make it easier to run a small business? — Local small businesses often benefit from increased tourism associated with national historical sites. Is this likely to create jobs? — Establishing a new national park unit typically creates jobs in park management, maintenance, and local tourism. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill authorizes the purchase of land and ongoing administrative costs for a new park unit.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — Preserving the history of Holocaust refugees acknowledges and commemorates the struggle against genocide and persecution.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — Expands federal jurisdiction by adding a new unit to the National Park System.
- 10/1/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/10/2026
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/8/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 8/24/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/12/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/7/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/6/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/5/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
2 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Lauren BoebertRepublican · Colorado
Don BaconRepublican · Nebraska
Andrew GarbarinoRepublican · New York
Thomas KeanRepublican · New Jersey
Michael LawlerRepublican · New York
Nicholas LangworthyRepublican · New York
Seth MagazinerDemocrat · Rhode Island
Thomas SuozziDemocrat · New York