Sponsors (4)
The bill protects and promotes Fort Ontario's WWII refugee history—boosting education, preservation, and local tourism—while creating some taxpayer costs and imposing public-access and oversight conditions that may limit private control and acquisition flexibility.
Local communities, small businesses, and regional tourism would gain increased visitors and economic activity from federal recognition and establishment of a new NPS unit.
Schools, universities, visitors, and families would have preserved and interpreted access to Fort Ontario's WWII refugee history for education and public programs.
Taxpayers and federal/state decision-makers would benefit from a required study that evaluates national significance and provides cost estimates to inform Congress before major federal spending or a federal takeover.
Taxpayers and state/local governments could face increased costs from federal spending for land purchases, planning, studies, or assistance related to the site.
Homeowners and private landowners who accept federal restoration assistance would have to allow reasonable public access, potentially limiting private use of their property.
State and local governments could be constrained because federal acquisition of State or local government land is limited to donation only, complicating park expansion or transfers.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Creates a Fort Ontario National Historical Park if land is secured; designates the Churchill Museum as a National Historic Landmark and requires a special resource study.
Introduced December 16, 2025 by Joshua David Hawley · Last progress December 17, 2025
Creates a new National Historical Park for the Fort Ontario Holocaust Refugee Shelter in New York if the Secretary of the Interior determines enough land or land interests shown on the specified map have been acquired, and requires publication of that determination in the Federal Register. Authorizes the Secretary to administer the new park, acquire land by donation/purchase/exchange (with State or local lands only by donation), enter cooperative agreements, and complete a general management plan within three fiscal years after funds are available. Designates America’s National Churchill Museum at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri as a National Historic Landmark, allows the Secretary to enter cooperative agreements and provide technical/financial assistance to protect and interpret resources, and mandates a special resource study to evaluate national significance and alternatives, with a report to Congress within three years after funds are provided for the study.