II Calendar No. 27 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 146 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 4, 2009 Received and read the first time March 5, 2009 Read the second time and placed on the calendar AN ACT To establish a battlefield acquisition grant program for the acquisition and protection of nationally significant battlefields and associated sites of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Revolutionary War and War of 1812 Battlefield Protection Act.

2.

Battlefield Acquisition Grant Program for battlefields of the Revolutionary War and War of 1812

(a)

Definitions

In this Act: (1)

Battlefield report

The term battlefield report means the document titled Report to Congress on the Historic Preservation of Revolutionary War and War of 1812 Sites in the United States, prepared by the National Park Service, and dated September 2007. (2)

Eligible entity

The term eligible entity means a State or local government. (3)

Eligible site

The term eligible site means a site that— (A)is not within the exterior boundaries of a unit of the National Park System; and (B)is identified in the battlefield report. (4)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the American Battlefield Protection Program. (b)

Establishment

The Secretary shall establish a battlefield acquisition grant program for nationally significant battlefields and associated sites of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 under which the Secretary may make grants to eligible entities to pay the Federal share of the cost of acquiring fee-simple or lesser interests from willing sellers in eligible sites for the preservation and protection of those eligible sites. (c)

Nonprofit partners

An eligible entity may acquire an interest in an eligible site using a grant under this section in partnership with a nonprofit organization. (d)

Non-federal share

The non-Federal share of the total cost of acquiring an interest in an eligible site under this section shall be not less than 50 percent. (e)

Limitations on land use

An interest in an eligible site acquired under this section shall be subject to section 6(f)(3) of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 (16 U.S.C. 4601–8(f)(3)). (f)

Willing sellers

Acquisitions of land and interests in land under this Act shall be limited to acquisitions, from willing sellers only, of conservation easements and fee-simple purchases of eligible sites. (g)

Reports

(1)

In general

Not later than 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the activities carried out under this section. (2)

Update on battlefield report

Not later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that updates the battlefield report to reflect— (A)preservation activities carried out at the 677 battlefields and associated sites identified in the battlefield report during the period between publication of the battlefield report and the update; (B)changes in the condition of the battlefields and associated sites during that period; and (C)any other relevant developments relating to the battlefields and associated sites during that period. (h)

Authorizations of appropriations

(1)

In general

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary from the Land and Water Conservation Fund to provide grants under this Act $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2014. (2)

Update of battlefield report

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out subsection (g)(2), $500,000.

Passed the House of Representatives March 3, 2009. Lorraine C. Miller, Clerk. March 5, 2009 Read the second time and placed on the calendar