[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 133 (Tuesday, September 6, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H5065-H5067]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         FORT ONTARIO STUDY ACT

  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the 
rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4202) to authorize the Secretary of the 
Interior to conduct a special resource study of Fort Ontario in the 
State of New York, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4202

       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 Study Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) From 1755 until 1814, Fort Ontario and three previous 
     fortifications built on the site of the Fort in Oswego, New 
     York, on the shore of Lake Ontario were used as military 
     installations during the French and Indian War, the 
     Revolutionary War, and the War of 1812.
       (2) The original fort, erected by the British in 1755, was 
     destroyed by French forces in 1756. The fort was rebuilt and 
     subsequently destroyed during both the American Revolution 
     and the War of 1812. The star-shaped fort was constructed on 
     the site of the original fortifications in the 1840s, with 
     improvements made from 1863 through 1872.
       (3) The United States Armed Forces began expanding Fort 
     Ontario in the early 20th century and by 1941, approximately 
     125 buildings stood at the fort.
       (4) On June 9, 1944, President Franklin D. Roosevelt 
     announced that Fort Ontario would serve as the Nation's only 
     Emergency

[[Page H5066]]

     Refugee Camp during World War II. From August of 1944 until 
     February 1946, nearly 1,000 refugees were sheltered at Fort 
     Ontario.
       (5) Fort Ontario was conveyed from the Federal Government 
     to the State of New York in 1946; it was used to house World 
     War II veterans and their families and then converted to a 
     State historic site in 1953.
       (6) A post cemetery containing the graves of 77 officers, 
     soldiers, women, and children who served at Fort Ontario in 
     war and peace is situated on the grounds of the fort.
       (7) In 1970, Fort Ontario was placed on the National 
     Register of Historic Places.

     SEC. 3. FORT ONTARIO SPECIAL RESOURCE STUDY.

       (a) Study.--The Secretary of the Interior (referred to in 
     this section as the ``Secretary'') shall, subject to 
     appropriations, conduct a special resource study of Fort 
     Ontario in Oswego, New York.
       (b) Contents.--In conducting the study under subsection 
     (a), the Secretary shall--
       (1) evaluate the national significance of the site;
       (2) determine the suitability and feasibility of 
     designating the site as a unit of the National Park System;
       (3) consider other alternatives for preservation, 
     protection, and interpretation of the lands by Federal, 
     State, or local governmental entities, or private and 
     nonprofit organizations;
       (4) consult with interested Federal, State, or local 
     governmental entities, private and nonprofit organizations or 
     any other interested individuals;
       (5) determine the effect of the designation of the site as 
     a unit of the National Park System on existing commercial and 
     recreational uses and the effect on State and local 
     governments to manage those activities;
       (6) identify any authorities, including condemnation, that 
     may compel or allow the Secretary to influence or participate 
     in local land use decisions (such as zoning) or place 
     restrictions on non-Federal land if the site is designated a 
     unit of the National Park System; and
       (7) identify cost estimates for any Federal acquisition, 
     development, interpretation, operation, and maintenance 
     associated with the alternatives.
       (c) Applicable Law.--The study authorized under subsection 
     (a) shall be conducted in accordance with section 100507 of 
     title 54, United States Code.
       (d) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date on which 
     funds are first made available for the study under subsection 
     (a), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Natural 
     Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
     on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report that 
     describes--
       (1) the findings of the study; and
       (2) any conclusions and recommendations of the Secretary.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Beyer) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania.


                             General Leave

  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent 
that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their 
remarks and to include extraneous materials on the bill under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time 
as I may consume.
  Fort Ontario is a military installation, located on the mouth of the 
Oswego River in New York, that was used during the French and Indian 
War, the Revolutionary War, and the War of 1812. The fort has a rich 
history of over 200 years of active military use and was destroyed and 
rebuilt on three separate occasions. At various points in history, it 
also served as a training post, as a hospital camp, and as an emergency 
refugee shelter.
  H.R. 4202, which was introduced by Congressman John Katko of New 
York, authorizes a special resource study to evaluate Fort Ontario's 
national significance and determine the suitability and feasibility of 
designating it as a unit of the National Park System.
  I urge the adoption of this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BEYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  This bill authorizes the National Park Service to conduct a special 
resource study of Fort Ontario in Oswego, New York. Fort Ontario was a 
military installation that was used during the French and Indian War, 
which was later used to house refugees who fled the Nazi Holocaust 
during World War II.
  Refugees were allowed into the United States as guests of President 
Franklin Roosevelt's. Many Americans remember our Nation's role in 
World War II through events like the Invasion of Normandy or the Battle 
of Iwo Jima, which have been re-imagined in film and memorialized in 
stone, but the story of Fort Ontario is also an important component of 
our historical legacy. Providing refuge from persecution says as much 
about our national character as the bravery and sacrifice of the 
millions of Americans who were deployed overseas. The site has been 
managed as a New York State Historic Site since 1949 and has been 
listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1970.
  The special resource study authorized by this bill will look into the 
best available options for the continued preservation and management of 
Fort Ontario, including the possibility of turning it into a unit of 
the National Park System. Fort Ontario has had many uses throughout our 
Nation's history, and it has had a particularly relevant place in the 
story of Jewish Americans. As we work to ensure that our public lands 
tell the story of all Americans, Fort Ontario and its unique story will 
be a fitting addition.
  I thank Representative Katko, the sponsor of this bill, for bringing 
the story of Fort Ontario to our attention.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Katko), the author of this legislation.
  Mr. KATKO. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, Fort Ontario has stood on the shores of Lake Ontario in 
Oswego, New York, since 1755. For the past 63 years, the fort has been 
preserved as a New York State Historic Site, serving as a cultural and 
historic landmark for Oswego County and the entire region.
  I am proud to stand here today in support of this legislation which 
would take the crucial step towards ensuring this historic site 
receives the national recognition it deserves. The Fort Ontario Study 
Act would commission a special resource study of Fort Ontario to 
evaluate the site's national significance and determine the suitability 
of its designation as a part of the National Park System.
  The history of Fort Ontario is truly unique within the National Park 
System and within our Nation as a whole. The fort has been involved in 
nearly every major American war from the French and Indian War to World 
War II. From 1944 to 1946, under a declaration by President Franklin 
Roosevelt, the fort served as the Nation's only emergency refugee camp, 
providing shelter to over 900 refugees who fled the Holocaust--a truly 
unique designation. The site now hosts the Safe Haven Holocaust Refugee 
Shelter Museum, which preserves the stories of these refugees, the 
tragedies they faced, and, eventually, the freedom and safety they 
gained right here in the United States.
  Fort Ontario has become an important tourist attraction in central 
New York, drawing visitors from across the State, the country, and, 
indeed, throughout the world. Preserving this location as a national 
park will not only better preserve the history of the fort, but there 
will also be the potential to grow tourism and boost our regional 
economy.
  I am very honored to introduce this legislation that recognizes the 
important history of the fort and to credit this important step to the 
local champions who have worked tirelessly to preserve the history of 
the site, including the Friends of Fort Ontario, Paul Lear with New 
York State Parks, the board of the Safe Haven Holocaust Refugee Shelter 
Museum--a great group of individuals--and the many volunteers who give 
their time to this cause.

                              {time}  1715

  I want to thank fellow New York Representatives, Congressman Hanna 
and Congresswoman Slaughter, who have worked with me in the House to 
support this effort, as well as the chairman of the committee for 
working to move this important legislation.
  I ask all my colleagues to support this legislation.
  Mr. BEYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I just want to thank Mr. 
Katko for his leadership on this piece

[[Page H5067]]

of legislation and for bringing this to our attention and bringing this 
process to the floor. I urge its support.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4202, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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