[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 5 (Wednesday, January 10, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S75]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mr. KAINE (for himself, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, Mr. Warner, Mr. 
        Cardin, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Wicker, and Mr. 
        Tillis):
  S. 3568. A bill to amend chapter 3081 of title 54, United States 
Code, to enhance the protection and preservation of America's 
battlefields; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. KAINE. Madam President,  today I am introducing bipartisan 
legislation to protect America's historic battlefields. Specifically, 
the bill would make updates to strengthen the American Battlefield 
Protection Program, ABPP, a program within the National Park Service, 
NPS, which promotes the preservation of significant historic 
battlefields and sites of armed conflict across the United States. The 
program has preserved more than 35,000 acres of historic land in 20 
States.
  I am pleased that Senator Hyde-Smith of Mississippi is coleading this 
effort with me, along with Senators Warner, Cornyn, Cardin, Wicker, Van 
Hollen, and Tillis.
  Protection of America's battlefields is the preservation of our 
Nation's history. Once these grounds are lost, we will have forever 
lost the opportunity to tell their unique stories. When preserved and 
interpreted, these lands serve as outdoor classrooms to educate both 
current and future generation of Americans about some of the most 
pivotal moments in our Nation's history.
  Key to the success of ABPP has been its one-to-one matching grants 
formula, which encourages State, local, and nonprofit investment in the 
preservation of Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Civil War 
battlefields. Preserved battlefields are economic drivers for 
communities, bringing in tourism dollars that are extremely important 
to the economies of these communities. Over the past two decades, the 
sense of urgency to preserve these sites has only grown as some of the 
most historically significant battlefields in the Nation remain 
unprotected.
  Recognizing the success of the ABPP and the continued need for 
preserved battlefields to serve as places where visitors can better 
understand the battles and their consequences, this legislation 
proposes to make necessary updates that will strengthen the program for 
years to come. These modifications will help to ensure that these 
hallowed grounds are preserved forever.

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