[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 5169 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 5169
To expand the boundaries of the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National
Historic District, to recognize and enhance the Shenandoah Valley
Battlefields National Historic District partnership model, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 29, 2026
Mr. Justice (for himself, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Kaine, and Mr. Warner)
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To expand the boundaries of the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National
Historic District, to recognize and enhance the Shenandoah Valley
Battlefields National Historic District partnership model, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Shenandoah Valley Battlefields
National Historic District Boundary Expansion and Partnership Act of
2026''.
SEC. 2. EXPANSION AND ADMINISTRATION OF SHENANDOAH VALLEY BATTLEFIELDS
NATIONAL HISTORIC DISTRICT.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) District.--The term ``District'' means the Shenandoah
Valley Battlefields National Historic District established by
subsection (e) of the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National
Historic District and Commission Act of 1996 (section 606 of
division I of the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act
of 1996) (54 U.S.C. 320101 note; Public Law 104-333) (as
amended by subsection (b)).
(2) Management entity; plan.--The terms ``management
entity'' and ``plan'' have the meanings given those terms in
subsection (d) of the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National
Historic District and Commission Act of 1996 (54 U.S.C. 320101
note; Public Law 104-333).
(b) Boundary Expansion.--Subsection (e) of the Shenandoah Valley
Battlefields National Historic District and Commission Act of 1996 (54
U.S.C. 320101 note; Public Law 104-333) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``Commonwealth of
Virginia'' and inserting ``States of Virginia and West
Virginia''; and
(2) in paragraph (2)--
(A) by striking ``(A) The corridor shall consist of
lands and interests therein as'' and inserting the
following:
``(A) In general.--The District shall consist of--
``(i) land and interests in land, as'';
(B) in subparagraph (A)--
(i) in clause (i) (as so designated), by
striking the period at the end and inserting a
semicolon; and
(ii) by adding at the end the following:
``(ii) Rockbridge County, Virginia;
``(iii) Berkeley, Jefferson, and Morgan
Counties, West Virginia; and'';
(C) in subparagraph (B)--
(i) by striking ``subparagraph (A)'' and
inserting ``clause (i) or any of the counties
described in clauses (ii) and (iii)''; and
(ii) by striking ``(B) The District shall
consist of historic'' and inserting the
following:
``(iv) any historic''; and
(D) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``(C) The map
referred to in subparagraph (A)'' and inserting the
following:
``(B) Availability of map.--The map referred to in
subparagraph (A)(i)''.
(c) Administration.--
(1) In general.--The District shall be managed and
administered by the management entity--
(A) as a distinct National Historic District
partnership model; and
(B) subject to paragraph (2), in accordance with--
(i) the purposes described in subsection
(c) of the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields
National Historic District and Commission Act
of 1996 (54 U.S.C. 320101 note; Public Law 104-
333); and
(ii) the plan, subject to the condition
that the plan shall be updated as necessary to
address interpretive measures, partnerships,
and other resources and needs in the areas
added to the District by the amendments made by
subsection (b).
(2) References.--Any reference contained in the Shenandoah
Valley Battlefields National Historic District and Commission
Act of 1996 (54 U.S.C. 320101 note; Public Law 104-333) or the
plan to the ``Commonwealth of Virginia'' shall be considered to
be a reference to the ``States of Virginia and West Virginia''.
(3) Applicability of other law.--Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, the District shall not be subject to the
administrative provisions or funding allocation formulas
applicable to components of the National Heritage Area System
under section 6001 of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation,
Management, and Recreation Act (54 U.S.C. 320101 note; Public
Law 116-9).
(4) Eligibility for funding.--Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, for fiscal year 2027 and each fiscal year
thereafter, the District and the management entity shall
continue--
(A) to receive funding for purposes of management
and administration of the District in an amount equal
to not less than the amount provided for those purposes
in fiscal year 2026; and
(B) to be eligible for any technical assistance or
grants otherwise available to National Heritage Areas.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated--
(1) for fiscal year 2027 and each fiscal year thereafter,
$1,250,000 to the management entity, of which--
(A) not more than $625,000 for each fiscal year
shall be used for operations of the management entity;
and
(B) not more than $625,000 for each fiscal year
shall be used for the operation and maintenance of the
battlefield parks, visitor facilities, and preserved
historic properties in the District; and
(2) for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2033, $2,500,000
for--
(A) grants and technical assistance under
subsection (g) of the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields
National Historic District and Commission Act of 1996
(54 U.S.C. 320101 note; Public Law 104-333); and
(B) the acquisition from willing sellers of land
and interests in land for the District.
(e) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall submit to Congress a
report that includes recommendations of the Secretary for methods to
replicate the partnership model used in the District at other locations
in the National Park System.
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