Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Elise Stefanik reintroduced the bipartisan Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area Enhancement Act with Congressman Paul Tonko (NY-20) to commission a study regarding the benefits of expanding the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area to include all of Washington and Saratoga Counties.
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.
“Upstate New York and the North Country are the cradle of the American Revolution and home to numerous battlefields and historic sites. I am proud to introduce my legislation, the Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area Enhancement Act, to bolster efforts to preserve our rich heritage and ensure these crucial pieces of our history are preserved for future generations,” said Congresswoman Elise Stefanik.
“Our heritage areas are vital threads in the fabric of our nation’s story—preserving places of deep cultural, historical, and natural significance while uplifting the communities that steward them. The bipartisan legislation we’ve introduced today will strengthen and clarify the Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area. I urge my colleagues to support this bill as a step to further honor our shared past and spark economic growth and cultural tourism in Upstate New York for generations to come,” said Congressman Paul Tonko.
“The Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage champions the America story through close collaborations with our many partners. Adding Saratoga and Washington Counties to the Congressionally designated boundaries of the National Heritage Area will help us tell a more complete story and expand partnerships,” said Andy Kitzmann, Executive Director of the Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area.
“Two hundred fifty years ago, the region to be study for inclusion in the Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area was already shaping the course of the American Revolution. This landscape carried Henry Knox’s Noble Train of Artillery in 1775—hauling cannons from upstate New York to Boston—helping lift the siege and deliver the first major American victory. For over two and a half centuries, the Hudson River Valley has been the cradle of America’s fight for independence. Expanding the Heritage Area to include Saratoga and Washington Counties corrects a long-standing oversight and ensures that the full story of the America’s turning point is told. This study empowers our communities to preserve that legacy while unlocking economic opportunity through heritage tourism. It’s an investment in “we the people” —and in the stories that define our nation,” said Sean Kelleher, Historian for the Town of Saratoga.
Heritage areas have a proven record of fostering job creation and advancing economic, cultural, historic, environmental, and community development. In addition to job creation, National Heritage Areas generate valuable revenue for local governments and sustain communities through revitalization and heritage tourism. The local Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership, and Hudson River Valley Greenway are just a few of the sites that make up New York’s national heritage network and bring countless benefits to its communities.
Congresswoman Stefanik’s bill, the Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area Enhancement Act passed on the House Floor last Congress by an overwhelming bipartisan vote.
Read the full bill text here.
