February 5, 2025
Mrs. Gillibrand (for herself and Mr. Schumer) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
To establish the Fort Ontario Holocaust Refugee Shelter National Historical Park in the State of New York as a unit of the National Park System, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Fort Ontario Holocaust Refugee Shelter National Historical Park Establishment Act
.
Sec. 2. Definitions
In this Act:
(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 section 3(a)(1).
(3) Secretary
The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.
(4) State
The term State means the State of New York.
Sec. 3. Establishment of Fort Ontario Holocaust Refugee Shelter National Historical Park
(a) 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.
(b) 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.