December 16, 2025
Mr. Hawley (for himself, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Schumer, and Mr. Schmitt) introduced the following bill; which was read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed
To establish the Fort Ontario Holocaust Refugee Shelter National Historical Park, to designate the America’s National Churchill Museum National Historic Landmark, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the National Historical Park and National Historic Landmark Establishment and Boundary Adjustments Act of 2025
.
Sec. 2. Establishment of Fort Ontario Holocaust Refugee Shelter National Historical Park
(a) Definitions
In this section:
(1) Map
The term map means the map entitled Fort Ontario Holocaust Refugee Shelter National Historical Park Proposed Boundary
, numbered 962/194,681, and dated September 2024.
(2) National Historical Park
The term National Historical Park means the Fort Ontario Holocaust Refugee Shelter National Historical Park established by subsection (b)(1).
(3) Secretary
The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.
(4) State
The term State means the State of New York.
(b) Establishment
(1) In general
Subject to paragraph (3), there is established in the State as a unit of the National Park System the Fort Ontario Holocaust Refugee Shelter National Historical Park.
(2) Purpose
The purpose of the National Historical Park is to preserve, protect, and interpret for the benefit of present and future generations resources associated with the stories of the 982 refugees from World War II who were housed at Fort Ontario from August of 1944 until February of 1946.
(3) Conditions of establishment
(A) Determination by the secretary
The National Historical Park shall not be established until the date on which the Secretary determines that a sufficient quantity of land or interests in land has been acquired from land identified as Proposed Boundary
on the map to constitute a manageable park unit.
(B) Notice
Not later than 30 days after the date on which the Secretary makes a determination under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register notice of the establishment of the National Historical Park.
(4) Map
The map shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park Service.
(5) Boundary
The boundary of the National Historical Park shall include any land or interests in land acquired by the Secretary under this section.
(c) Administration
(1) In general
The Secretary shall administer the National Historical Park in accordance with—
(A)
this section; and
(B)
the laws generally applicable to units of the National Park System, including—
(i)
sections 100101(a), 100751(a), 100752, 100753, and 102101 of title 54, United States Code; and
(ii)
chapters 1003 and 3201 of title 54, United States Code.
(2) Agreements
(A) Cooperative agreements
In accordance with section 101702 of title 54, United States Code, the Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements with the State or other public and private entities to provide interpretive and educational services within the National Historical Park.
(B) Interpretation and restoration agreements
The Secretary may enter into agreements to identify, interpret, and restore nationally significant historic or cultural resources located on non-Federal land within the boundary of, or in close proximity to, the National Historical Park.
(C) Public access
Any cooperative agreement entered into under subparagraph (B) to provide assistance to non-Federal land shall provide for reasonable public access to the non-Federal land.
(3) Acquisition of land
(A) In general
Subject to subparagraph (B), the Secretary may acquire land and interests in land located within the boundary of the National Historical Park by—
(i)
donation;
(ii)
purchase with donated or appropriated funds; or
(iii)
exchange.
(B) Limitation
Any land owned by the State or a political subdivision of the State may be acquired for inclusion in the National Historical Park only by donation.
(4) Management plan
Not later than 3 fiscal years after the date on which funds are made available to carry out this section, the Secretary, in consultation with the State, shall complete a general management plan for the National Historical Park in accordance with—
(A)
section 100502 of title 54, United States Code; and
(B)
any other applicable laws.
Sec. 3. America’s National Churchill Museum National Historic Landmark
(a) Definitions
In this section:
(1) City
The term City means the city of Fulton, Missouri.
(2) College
The term College means Westminster College, located at 501 Westminster Avenue in the City.
(3) Landmark
The term Landmark means the America’s National Churchill Museum National Historic Landmark designated by subsection (b)(1).
(4) Secretary
The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.
(5) State
The term State means the State of Missouri.
(b) Designation of America's National Churchill Museum National Historic Landmark
(1) In general
America’s National Churchill Museum located at the College, including the Winston Churchill Memorial listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is designated as the America’s National Churchill Museum National Historic Landmark
.
(2) Cooperative agreements
(A) In general
The Secretary, in consultation with the State, the City, and the College, may enter into cooperative agreements with appropriate public or private entities, for the purposes of—
(i)
protecting historic resources at the Landmark; and
(ii)
providing educational and interpretive facilities and programs at the Landmark for the public.
(B) Technical and financial assistance
The Secretary may provide technical and financial assistance to any entity with which the Secretary has entered into a cooperative agreement under subparagraph (A).
(3) No effect on actions of property owners
Designation of the America’s National Churchill Museum as a National Historic Landmark shall not prohibit any actions that may otherwise be taken by a property owner (including the College and any other owner of the Landmark) with respect to the property of the owner.
(4) No effect on administration
Nothing in this subsection affects the administration of the Landmark by the State, the City, or the College.
(c) Special resource study
(1) In general
The Secretary shall conduct a special resource study of the Landmark.
(2) Contents
In conducting the study under this subsection, the Secretary shall—
(A)
evaluate the national significance of the Landmark;
(B)
determine the suitability and feasibility of designating the Landmark as a unit of the National Park System;
(C)
(i)
consider alternatives to that designation for the preservation, protection, and interpretation of the Landmark by the Federal Government, the State, the City and other affected units of local government, or private and nonprofit organizations (including the College); and
(ii)
identify cost estimates for any Federal acquisition, development, interpretation, operation, and maintenance associated with the alternatives described in clause (i); and
(D)
consult with interested Federal agencies, the State, the City and other affected units of local government, private and nonprofit entities (including the College), and other interested individuals.
(3) Requirement
The Secretary shall conduct the study under this subsection in accordance with section 100507 of title 54, United States Code.
(4) Report
Not later than 3 years after the date on which funds are first made available to carry out the study under this subsection, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report that describes—
(A)
the results of the study; and
(B)
any conclusions and recommendations of the Secretary.