SARATOGA NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD PARK

On 2024-12-17, Representative Elise M. Stefanik (R-NY-21) delivered a floor speech titled "SARATOGA NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD PARK" in the House. The speech addressed the environment and also covered defense, trade policy. It referenced legislation: HR8931.

SARATOGA NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD PARK

Congressional Record, Volume 170 Issue 187 (Tuesday, December 17, 2024) [Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 187 (Tuesday, December 17, 2024)] [House] [Pages H7286-H7287] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SARATOGA NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD PARK Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 8931) 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. 8931 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. 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 gentleman from California (Mr. Huffman) 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 have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 8931, 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. 8931, which will redesignate the Saratoga National Historic Park as the Saratoga National Battlefield Park. On September 19, 1777, General Horatio Gates led the Continental Army troops against the British Empire in present-day Saratoga County, New York. In the ensuing Battles of Saratoga, American colonists would rout a British invasion force and create a turning point in the Revolutionary War. Today, the site of these battles is conserved in the 3,400-acre Saratoga National Historical Park, a unit of the National Park System. There, visitors can explore trails and tour routes to experience the historic battlefield, which includes landmarks, fortifications, and other important structures. The park also hosts artifacts, exhibits, historical reenactments, and guided tours. While the current site was originally named ``Saratoga Battlefield Park'' by New York State, 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 of American independence. Accordingly, Representative Stefanik's legislation would redesignate the site as the ``Saratoga National Battlefield Park,'' thus identifying its importance as a historical battlefield and emphasizing the sacrifices of soldiers who fought there. I thank Representative Stefanik for her leadership on this issue and for working tirelessly this Congress on behalf of her constituents. We will all miss Representative Stefanik next Congress, but in the meantime, I am pleased to be working with her in advancing this important legislation through the House. Mr. Speaker, I support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 8931. It is unclear to me why when this park changed from being a State park to part of the National Park Service the word ``battlefield'' was dropped, but, obviously, the Battles of Saratoga are a very important part of history. This is where American Revolutionary forces won decisive victory in 1777. The change proposed in this legislation is appropriate, I support it, and I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Stefanik), the lead sponsor of the bill. {time} 1830 Ms. STEFANIK. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chair and ranking member. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bipartisan legislation, the Strengthening America's Turning Point Act. I am always so proud to share with my colleagues in Congress and 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. I grew up going to these historic sites like generations of upstaters and, for years, I have been proud to lead the charge in their preservation in Congress. Preserving and championing our battlefields and historic areas is one of my greatest privileges as the Representative of New York's 21st District and co-chair of the Congressional Battlefield Caucus. The Battles of Saratoga were the most significant turning point and one of the most decisive American battles of the American Revolution. The American defeat of British forces at Saratoga marked a changing of the tide in the Revolutionary War, securing foreign support from France and bolstering domestic support for the American patriots and our 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 engagements that took place there. The historic site was originally named the Saratoga Battlefield Park. [[Page H7287]] When it became a national park in 1938, the word ``battlefield'' was left out of its 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, especially important as we are celebrating our Nation's semiquincentennial. I want to express my immense gratitude to my great friend and classmate Chairman Bruce Westerman and Subcommittee Chair Tom Tiffany and for their partnership ensuring our battlefields and historic sites in upstate New York and across America are preserved and protected for generations to come, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.'' Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, this is a simple, bipartisan bill that will distinguish an important site for its pivotal role in the American fight for independence ahead of our Nation's 250th anniversary. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. McClintock). 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. 8931. 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. ____________________

Referenced legislation: HR8931, HR8931