Strengthening America's Turning Point Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. HOYLE of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1550 redesignates Saratoga National Historical Park as the Saratoga National Battlefield Park.

The site in Stillwater, New York, marks the location of a critical pair of battles known as the turning point of the American Revolutionary War.

American forces defeated the British in the Battle of Saratoga in October 1777, which the National Park Service notes renewed the patriots' hope for independence and helped secure foreign recognition and support for the American Revolution.

This truly was a turning point that helped invigorate the fight for our independence.

As a testament to the importance of this monument, Congress has on permanent display in the Capitol rotunda, just steps away from here and to the left of the monument of three great suffragists, a famous oil painting by John Trumbull of the surrender of the British General Burgoyne at Saratoga.

The State of New York began efforts to preserve the battlefield in 1927, establishing a park known as the Saratoga Battlefield Park. However, the site's name changed to the Saratoga National Historical Park when Congress designated it as part of the National Park System in 1938.

Today's bill would restore the use of the term ``battlefield'' in the park's name to reflect the site's significance in the American Revolution. This is a fitting tribute as we prepare for next year's 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Mr. Speaker, I support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Ms. HOYLE of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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