# Fort Ontario Holocaust Refugee Shelter National Historical Park Establishment Act

This bill creates a new national historical park at Fort Ontario in Oswego, New York, to preserve and honor the history of a unique World War II refugee shelter. During the war, the U.S. government brought nearly 1,000 European refugees—mostly Jewish people fleeing Nazi persecution—to this military fort, where they lived while waiting to be resettled. The bill designates this site as an official national historical park so future generations can learn about this important but often-overlooked chapter of American history.

The practical effect is that Fort Ontario will receive federal funding and support to maintain the buildings, create educational programs, and develop visitor facilities similar to other national parks. The National Park Service will manage the site and work with local communities and historians to tell the stories of the refugees who found temporary safety there. This means the location will likely become a destination for school groups, tourists, and researchers interested in Holocaust history and American immigration policy during wartime.

The bill doesn't directly affect most Americans' daily lives, but it does represent a commitment of federal resources to historical preservation and education. For people living in the Oswego area, it could bring economic benefits through increased tourism and create jobs related to park operations and maintenance. For Holocaust survivors, their families, and people interested in this history, it provides official recognition and a permanent place to remember and learn about these refugees' experiences and the American government's decision to help them during one of history's darkest periods.