[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 80 (Tuesday, May 13, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H1974-H1975]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               STRENGTHENING AMERICA'S TURNING POINT ACT

  Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1550) to redesignate Saratoga National Historical Park as 
Saratoga National Battlefield Park.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1550

       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 ``Strengthening America's 
     Turning Point Act''.

     SEC. 2. SARATOGA NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD PARK.

       (a) Redesignation.--Saratoga National Historical Park shall 
     hereafter be known and designated as ``Saratoga National 
     Battlefield Park''.
       (b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
     document, paper, or other record of the United States to 
     Saratoga National Historical Park shall be deemed to be a 
     reference to Saratoga National Battlefield Park.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Hoyle) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas.


                             General Leave

  Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on H.R. 1550, the bill now under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Arkansas?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of Representative Stefanik's bill, 
H.R. 1550, which will redesignate the Saratoga National Historical Park 
located in her district as the Saratoga National Battlefield Park.
  Saratoga County, New York, is the fastest growing county in New York 
State and features a robust economy and world-class tourist 
destinations for families and history buffs alike. However, this 
prosperous community in upstate New York would not exist if not for a 
series of legendary events that took place nearly 250 years ago.
  In September 1777, General Horatio Gates led Continental Army troops 
against the British empire in present-day Saratoga County. In the 
ensuing Battles of Saratoga, American colonists forged a turning point 
in the Revolutionary War by routing the British invasion force.
  Today, this 3,400-acre site is considered a unit of the National Park 
System. There, visitors can explore trails and experience the historic 
battlefield, which includes landmarks, fortifications, and other 
important structures.
  Representative Stefanik's legislation would redesignate this hallowed 
site as the Saratoga National Battlefield Park, thereby recognizing its 
significance as a historic battlefield and highlighting the sacrifices 
made by the soldiers who fought there.
  While this area was originally named Saratoga Battlefield Park by the 
State of New York, the battlefield nomenclature was dropped in 1938 
when the area became part of the National Park System. With the 
battles' upcoming 250th anniversary, however, residents of Saratoga 
County and New York State have called for renaming the park to clarify 
its place in the heroic struggle for American independence.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Stefanik for her leadership on 
this issue. She is a longstanding advocate for honoring America's 
history and protecting hallowed battlefields. Her leadership was 
crucial in ensuring the passage of the bipartisan American Battlefield 
Protection Program Enhancement Act, which was signed into law earlier 
this year.
  Mr. Speaker, I support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Ms. HOYLE of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1550 redesignates Saratoga 
National Historical Park as the Saratoga National Battlefield Park.
  The site in Stillwater, New York, marks the location of a critical 
pair of battles known as the turning point of the American 
Revolutionary War.

[[Page H1975]]

  American forces defeated the British in the Battle of Saratoga in 
October 1777, which the National Park Service notes renewed the 
patriots' hope for independence and helped secure foreign recognition 
and support for the American Revolution.
  This truly was a turning point that helped invigorate the fight for 
our independence.
  As a testament to the importance of this monument, Congress has on 
permanent display in the Capitol rotunda, just steps away from here and 
to the left of the monument of three great suffragists, a famous oil 
painting by John Trumbull of the surrender of the British General 
Burgoyne at Saratoga.
  The State of New York began efforts to preserve the battlefield in 
1927, establishing a park known as the Saratoga Battlefield Park. 
However, the site's name changed to the Saratoga National Historical 
Park when Congress designated it as part of the National Park System in 
1938.
  Today's bill would restore the use of the term ``battlefield'' in the 
park's name to reflect the site's significance in the American 
Revolution. This is a fitting tribute as we prepare for next year's 
250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
  Mr. Speaker, I support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
New York (Ms. Stefanik), the lead sponsor of this bill.
  Ms. STEFANIK. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Westerman for yielding me 
time.
  I rise today in support of my legislation, the Strengthening 
America's Turning Point Act.
  I am always proud to share with my colleagues in Congress and with 
the American people that upstate New York and the North Country are 
known as the cradle of the American Revolution, home to numerous 
battlefields and historic sites that were critical in shaping our 
Nation's founding and history.

  As we approach the U.S. semiquincentennial and the 250th anniversary 
of the Battles of Saratoga, there is no better time to recognize the 
pivotal role this site played in our Nation's war for independence.
  The Battles of Saratoga were the most significant turning points and 
one of the most decisive American battles of the Revolution. British 
General Burgoyne tried to seize control of the strategically important 
Hudson River Valley, but his campaign ended in defeat at the Battles of 
Saratoga, where he surrendered to General Horatio Gates.
  The American victory against British forces at the Battles of 
Saratoga marked a changing of the tide in the Revolutionary War, hence, 
the turning point, securing foreign support from France and bolstering 
domestic support for the American patriots and their righteous cause.
  This bipartisan legislation would rename Saratoga National Historical 
Park to Saratoga National Battlefield Park to more accurately reflect 
the historical significance of the site and emphasize the crucial 
military engagement that took place there.
  The historic site was originally actually named Saratoga Battlefield 
Park, but when it became a national park in 1938, the word 
``battlefield'' was left out of the name.
  Unanimously supported by the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors, 
this significant fix will help increase public understanding of the 
deep significance the site holds in our military history and honor the 
site where so many gave their last full measure of devotion.
  Mr. Speaker, I express my gratitude to my great friend and classmate, 
Chairman Bruce Westerman, for his partnership in ensuring our 
battlefields and historic sites in upstate New York and across America 
are preserved and protected for generations to come.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this 
bipartisan bill, the Strengthening America's Turning Point Act.
  Ms. HOYLE of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the 
legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, this bill by Representative Stefanik 
acknowledges a significant site for its pivotal role in American 
history as we approach our Nation's 250th anniversary.
  I urge the adoption of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1550.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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