September 16, 2026
FROM REP. CLAUDIA TENNEY: Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today highlighted her Fort Ontario Holocaust Refugee Shelter National Historical Park Establishment Act (H.R. 1031) during a House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands legislative hearing, where Oswego County Clerk Terry Wilbur, a lifelong resident of Oswego County, testified in support of preserving Fort Ontario’s historic legacy for future generations. Fort Ontario has played an important role in American history, including during the French and Indian War and the War of 1812. From 1944 to 1946, the site also served as “Safe Haven,” the only refugee shelter established in the United States for victims fleeing the Holocaust, providing refuge to 982 predominantly Jewish refugees escaping Nazi persecution. Tenney’s legislation would bring national recognition and permanent federal support to this history by establishing parts of Fort Ontario within the National Park System. The proposal would preserve the State Historic Site under state management and maintain the central role of the City of Oswego, Oswego County, and local organizations in preserving and interpreting the site. “Fort Ontario holds a remarkable place in both Oswego County’s history and our nation’s history, and its story deserves to be preserved for generations to come,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “As the number of Holocaust survivors continues to decline, we have a responsibility to ensure the story of the 982 refugees who found safety in Oswego is never forgotten. Today’s hearing is an important step toward giving Fort Ontario the national recognition it deserves. I am especially grateful to Oswego County Clerk Terry Wilbur, a lifelong resident of our community, for bringing Oswego County’s voice to Congress and demonstrating the strong local commitment to protecting this historic site.”
“Fort Ontario is an important part of Oswego County’s history and the story of Jewish refugees who escaped Nazi persecution and found safety here,” said Oswego County Clerk Terry Wilbur. “I was honored to represent our community and testify before the House Natural Resources Subcommittee in support of H.R. 1031. Federal recognition would help preserve their stories, teach future generations about the dangers of antisemitism, and bring national attention to this part of our county’s history. I thank Congresswoman Tenney for her leadership in moving this legislation forward.” This legislation is supported by the American Jewish Committee, Jewish Federation of North America, Anti Defamation League, Combat Antisemitism Movement, and Zionist Organization for America: “At a moment when antisemitism is rising and Holocaust knowledge is fading, preserving places of witness is an urgent national responsibility. AJC’s State of Antisemitism in America 2024 Report found that Americans with greater knowledge about the Holocaust are much more likely to recognize antisemitism and to see it as a problem. Fort Ontario is an irreplaceable site of American Holocaust and refugee history, and establishing it as a National Historical Park will both preserve the story of the refugees who sheltered there and help future generations understand the impact of antisemitism. AJC thanks Representatives Tenney and Suozzi for their bipartisan leadership on this initiative,” said Julie Rayman, Senior Vice President of Policy and Political Affairs, American Jewish Committee.
“At a time when firsthand witnesses to the Holocaust are becoming fewer, preserving the places and stories that document this history is increasingly important. Fort Ontario offers future generations a tangible connection to the experiences of Holocaust refugees who found safety on American soil, highlighting the consequences of persecution and the importance of providing refuge to those fleeing it. Jewish Federations of North America are proud to support H.R. 1031 and thank Representatives Claudia Tenney and Tom Suozzi for their leadership in preserving this important chapter of American and Jewish history,” said Eric D. Fingerhut, President and CEO, Jewish Federations of North America.
“Fort Ontario is one of the few remaining places in America that can tell the story of Holocaust survivors’ experience firsthand. As the number of living survivors dwindles and Holocaust denial and distortion spread online, preserving sites like Fort Ontario is essential. ADL strongly supports the passage of H.R. 1031, which would conserve the site for generations to come,” said Lauren Wolman, Senior Director of Government Relations and Strategy, Anti-Defamation League (ADL).
“As antisemitism continues to rise in the United States and around the world, and fewer Holocaust survivors remain to share their stories, we must preserve historical sites like Safe Haven at Fort Ontario for generations to come. The Holocaust Refugee Shelter at Fort Ontario provided sanctuary during one of history’s darkest moments, and it deserves recognition in the National Park System. In 1944, Fort Ontario became home to 982 refugees (almost all of whom were Jewish) fleeing Nazi persecution and the horrors of the Holocaust. Designating it a National Historical Park will ensure future generations encounter this history firsthand, long after the last survivors are gone. The Combat Antisemitism Movement commends Rep. Claudia Tenney for her leadership on the Fort Ontario Holocaust Refugee Shelter National Historical Park Establishment Act and for spearheading this important effort to preserve Fort Ontario’s legacy,” said Alyza D. Lewin, President of U.S. Affairs, Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM).
