Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik’s Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area Enhancement Act, which would commission a study regarding the benefits of expanding the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area to include all of Washington and Saratoga Counties, passed on the House Floor with bipartisan support.
“I am proud to see my legislation that pursues the expansion of the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area to include all of Washington and Saratoga Counties pass the House today with bipartisan support. Upstate New York and the North Country are the cradle of the American Revolution and home to numerous battlefields and historic sites. My bill will bolster efforts to preserve our rich heritage and ensure these crucial pieces of our history are preserved for future generations,” said Congresswoman Elise Stefanik.
“For nearly 250 years, the Hudson River Valley has been the cradle of America’s enduring story of independence and resilience. Expanding the Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area to include Saratoga and Washington Counties corrects a historical oversight and ensures the full story of the Battles of Saratoga—the turning point of the American Revolution—is told. This study empowers our communities to preserve this vital heritage while unlocking economic growth through heritage tourism. It’s an investment in history, community, and the principles that define our nation,” said Sean Kelleher, Historian for the Town of Saratoga.
Specifically, this legislation would work towards expanding opportunities for both counties to participate in federal grant programs, increase heritage tourism, and support cultural and economic development in the area.
Congresswoman Stefanik introduced this bipartisan legislation in January 2023. In June 2024, the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands held a legislative hearing on Congresswoman Stefanik’s bill where Sean Kelleher testified on its benefits. In November 2024, the legislation passed out of the Natural Resources Committee by unanimous consent.
As Co-Chair of the Congressional Battlefield Caucus, Congresswoman 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 Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area Enhancement Act here.
