Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik’s Strengthening America’s Turning Point Act to rename Saratoga National Historical Park to Saratoga National Battlefield Park passed on the House Floor with bipartisan support.
“I am proud to see my legislation renaming this historic site ‘Saratoga National Battlefield Park’ pass the House today with bipartisan support. This change will more accurately reflect the historical significance of the site as the turning point in the Revolutionary War and one of the most decisive American battles of the American Revolution. As Co-Chair of the Congressional Battlefield Caucus, it is my great honor to preserve and protect our many battlefields and historic sites in Upstate New York and the North Country, the cradle of the American Revolution,” said Congresswoman Elise Stefanik.
“On behalf of the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors, I thank Congresswoman Stefanik for her longstanding support for the promotion and preservation of our County’s revolutionary history. Redesignating the Saratoga National Historical Park as Saratoga National Battlefield Park will clearly identify the historical significance of this land for tourists and locals alike and is a timely honor for this hallowed ground as we near the 250th anniversary of the Battles of Saratoga and the American Revolutionary War,” said Saratoga County Board of Supervisors Chairman Phil Barrett.
On June 18, 2024, the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted a resolution requesting Congress and the National Park Service to rename the Saratoga National Historical Park to the Saratoga National Battlefield Park.
The site was originally named the Saratoga Battlefield Park, and that name was kept when it was designated as a New York State historical site in 1927. However, when it became a national park in 1938, the word ‘battlefield’ was dropped from its name.
In July 2024, Congresswoman Stefanik introduced the bipartisan Strengthening America’s Turning Point Act. In September 2024, Stefanik’s bill received a legislative hearing in the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands. In November 2024, the Strengthening America’s Turning Point Act passed out of the House Natural Resources Committee by unanimous consent.
As Co-Chair of the Congressional Battlefield Caucus, Stefanik has been a consistent champion for the preservation of our many battlefields and historic sites. In March 2023, Stefanik was awarded the National Preservation Leadership Award from the American Battlefield Trust for her leadership on battlefield preservation.
Read the full text of the bill here.
