Stefanik, Tonko Bipartisan Bill to Preserve Local Heritage Sites

Washington, D.C. — Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (NY-21) on April 10 reintroduced the bipartisan Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area Enhancement Act with Democratic 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. 

The legislation would specifically 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,” Stefanik said in a statement, adding that the Act would bolster efforts to preserve the region’s heritage and ensure crucial pieces of our history are preserved for future generations. Stefanik was recently appointed by Speaker Mike Johnson as Chairwoman of House Republican Leadership for the 119th Congress. 

“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,” Tonko said in a statement.

Tonko and Stefanik each represent portions of Saratoga County. 

“Expanding the Heritage Area to include Saratoga and Washington Counties corrects a long-standing oversight and ensures that the full story of the Americas’ turning point is told,” said Sean Kelleher, Historian for the Town of Saratoga. “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.” 

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.