[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 4]
[House]
[Pages 4819-4821]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     AMERICAN BATTLEFIELD PROTECTION PROGRAM AMENDMENTS ACT OF 2013

  Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1033) to authorize the acquisition and protection of 
nationally significant battlefields and associated sites of the 
Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 under the American Battlefield 
Protection Program.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1033

       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 ``American Battlefield 
     Protection Program Amendments Act of 2013''.

[[Page 4820]]



     SEC. 2. REVOLUTIONARY WAR AND WAR OF 1812 AMERICAN 
                   BATTLEFIELD PROTECTION.

       Section 7301(c) of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act 
     of 2009 (Public Law 111-11) is amended as follows:
       (1) In paragraph (1)--
       (A) by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(A) Battlefield report.--The term `battlefield report' 
     means, collectively--
       ``(i) the report entitled `Report on the Nation's Civil War 
     Battlefields', prepared by the Civil War Sites Advisory 
     Commission, and dated July 1993; and
       ``(ii) the report entitled `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.''; and
       (B) in subparagraph (C)(ii), by striking ``Battlefield 
     Report'' and inserting ``battlefield report''.
       (2) In paragraph (2), by inserting ``eligible sites or'' 
     after ``acquiring''.
       (3) In paragraph (3), by inserting ``an eligible site or'' 
     after ``acquire''.
       (4) In paragraph (4), by inserting ``an eligible site or'' 
     after ``acquiring''.
       (5) In paragraph (5), by striking ``An'' and inserting ``An 
     eligible site or an''.
       (6) By redesignating paragraph (6) as paragraph (9).
       (7) By inserting after paragraph (5) the following new 
     paragraphs:
       ``(6) Willing sellers.--Acquisition of land or interests in 
     land under this subsection shall be from willing sellers 
     only.
       ``(7) Report.--Not later than 5 years after the date of the 
     enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall submit to 
     Congress a report on the activities carried out under this 
     subsection, including a description of--
       ``(A) preservation activities carried out at the 
     battlefields and associated sites identified in the 
     battlefield report during the period between publication of 
     the battlefield report and the report required under this 
     paragraph;
       ``(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.
       ``(8) Prohibition on lobbying.--
       ``(A) In general.--None of the funds provided pursuant to 
     this section may be used for purposes of lobbying any person 
     or entity regarding the implementation of this section or be 
     granted, awarded, contracted, or otherwise be made available 
     to any person, organization, or entity that participates in 
     such lobbying.
       ``(B) Lobbying defined.--For purposes of this paragraph, 
     the term `lobbying' means to directly or indirectly pay for 
     any personal service, advertisement, telegram, telephone 
     call, letter, printed or written matter, or other device 
     intended or designed to influence in any manner a Member of 
     Congress, a jurisdiction, or an official of any government to 
     favor, adopt, or oppose by vote or otherwise, any 
     legislation, law, ratification, policy, land use plan 
     (including zoning), or appropriation of funds before or after 
     the introduction of any bill, resolution, or other measure 
     proposing such legislation, law, ratification, policy, or 
     appropriation.''.
       (8) In paragraph (9) (as redesignated by paragraph (6)), by 
     striking ``2013'' and inserting ``2018''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Wittman) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Holt) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia.


                             General Leave

  Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Virginia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  The American Battlefield Protection Act addressed the preservation 
and protection of Civil War battlefields through conservation easements 
or through the purchase of land from willing sellers with Federal 
grants. H.R. 1033 renews this effort which will soon expire and adds 
Revolutionary War and War of 1812 battlefields to those eligible for 
protection.
  It is important to know that the bill we are considering mirrors the 
version from the last Congress that passed the House and included 
improvements made by the Natural Resources Committee. Specifically, the 
program sunset was moved up from 10 to 5 years, and we retained the 
existing authorization of appropriations to provide a more realistic 
funding level in these times of deficit spending.
  Additionally, the committee added language to prohibit these funds 
from being used for lobbying activities or for being distributed to 
organizations that participate in lobbying. With so many existing needs 
within the National Park Service, we want to ensure that these funds go 
specifically for battlefield protection and not outside advocacy.
  I would also like to point out that this legislation does not fund 
advocacy or educational seminars and programs. These grants are 
strictly available to State and local governments for battlefield 
protection. There is a separate and distinct Federal authorization for 
educational programs and partnership that is not part of this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, with that, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in support of the American Battlefield Protection Program 
Amendments Act that Mr. Wittman and I have brought to the committee and 
now to the floor.
  From Lexington, where the shot still reverberates, to Gettysburg, the 
site of the battle described so brilliantly and concisely by Lincoln, 
to the stories of the American Revolution and the Civil War, it is at 
the battlefields that we bring to life the ideals of liberty and 
democracy fostered by our Nation's Founders.
  History is best experienced by those who can touch it, feel it, live 
it; and the battlefields of the American Revolution, the War of 1812, 
and the Civil War provide a unique opportunity for Americans to 
experience where and how the epic struggle for our Nation's 
independence and identity took place. Unfortunately, urbanization, 
suburban sprawl, and unplanned commercial and residential development 
are constantly encroaching on many of the significant battlefields of 
the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the Civil War. This 
encroachment poses a severe and growing risk to the preservation of 
these historically significant sites.
  Congress recognized this danger to our shared history and in the late 
1990s created the American Battlefield Protection Program, a 
competitive grant program that matches Federal dollars with private 
money to preserve Civil War sites. Since Congress first appropriated 
funding for this program, it has helped to save more than 17,000 acres 
of hallowed ground in 14 States, again encouraging private funds for 
acquiring land from willing sellers.
  The bill before us today, H.R. 1033, would build on the success of 
the American Battlefield Protection Program in preserving Civil War 
battlefield sites and would reauthorize this program and extend the 
protection and preservation to battlefields from the Revolutionary War 
and the War of 1812.
  H.R. 1033 would allow officials at the American Battlefield 
Protection Program to collaborate with State and local governments and 
nonprofit organizations to preserve and protect the most endangered 
historical sites and provide up to 50 percent of the cost of purchasing 
the battlefield land threatened by sprawl and commercial development, 
again from willing sellers encouraging the use of private funds.
  Previously, this legislation has been approved three times by this 
House with overwhelming bipartisan support, mostly unanimous.
  In a markup in the House Natural Resources Committee last month, the 
American Battlefield Protection Program Amendments Act again passed 
unanimously.
  As the Civil War Trust said in their letter supporting this 
legislation:

       The battlefields of the American Revolutionary War, the War 
     of 1812, and the Civil War provide a unique opportunity for 
     Americans to experience the epic battles that helped define 
     our Nation. Preserving these American historic treasures is 
     essential to remember the sacrifices that our ancestors made 
     to secure our freedom and independence and preserve our 
     Republic.

  With the ongoing bicentennial commemoration of the War of 1812 and 
the ongoing sesquicentennial commemoration of the Civil War, this is an 
opportune time to recommit ourselves to the protection of our Nation's 
hallowed grounds. Historical sites, once lost, are gone forever. We 
should act now to preserve these valuable sites.

[[Page 4821]]

  The National Park Service has done an inventory of sites around the 
country, and they point to many that need this protection now.
  I thank my colleague from Virginia for his enthusiastic support. I 
point out that there is strong bipartisan support for this legislation 
as cosponsors and other supporters. And I urge my colleagues to join us 
in supporting this bill.
  With that, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  As an original cosponsor of H.R. 1033, I would like to express my 
appreciation to Mr. Holt for his continued leadership to preserve and 
protect important historic battlefields throughout the United States, 
including those in his home State of New Jersey, which is better known 
as the ``crossroads of the American Revolution.''
  As a Virginian, this legislation is also especially notable as it 
will continue to preserve important hallowed ground from our Nation's 
independence and the Civil War. The Civil War Battlefield Preservation 
program has been particularly beneficial to the Commonwealth of 
Virginia. As a result, hard-fought acres of battleground have been 
preserved in pivotal sites such as Appomattox, Cedar Creek, 
Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg, Manassas, Petersburg, and Richmond.
  Preserving battlefields does more than just honor those who fought in 
those battles; it protects important places from development. I want to 
make sure that we continue those efforts in ensuring that we make the 
effort to keep these battlefields in their proper place in this 
Nation's history.
  I also would like to emphasize that this program doesn't increase the 
amount of Federal land. I know there's been some criticism to say this 
is an effort to increase Federal land within this program. While it 
does increase and expand those battlefield areas that are eligible 
under the program, it doesn't increase the amount of Federal land in 
this particular project.

                              {time}  1720

  I want to make sure people understand that because this is really for 
the protection of battlefields outside of national park boundaries, 
giving those concerned within those areas the ability to help preserve 
those lands. There is no additional management burden on the Federal 
Government, so these lands are not going to become part of a system in 
which we have to incur more costs to maintain those lands. It's the 
ability to make sure that we preserve those lands. Especially today, 
with the encroachment of development in these areas, these critical, 
historical sites must be preserved, and this gives the folks in those 
areas the flexibility and the tools--the ability--to preserve these 
lands.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I thank my good friend from 
Virginia, and would reiterate what he has said.
  In fact, the original legislation, which we are reauthorizing and 
extending through this bill, grew out of Virginia. It was because of 
the critical battlefields in Virginia that were at risk of being lost 
that this battlefield protection legislation was developed, but it will 
be beneficial across many States.
  If you look where the War of 1812 was fought--in the Deep South and 
around the Great Lakes--and where the Revolutionary War was fought, 
which was up and down the Thirteen Colonies, this is something that is 
of great national importance; and because the authorization is about to 
expire, it is needed; and because so many of these battlefields are at 
great risk of being overrun by sprawl and development, it is at the 
greatest need now.
  I urge my colleagues to support it, and I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  Mr. WITTMAN. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  As Mr. Holt said, preserving battlefields is extraordinarily 
important, but it does more than just honor those who have fought in 
the past: it's important that it protects these places that are so 
important in our Nation's history.
  Preserving these battlefields contributes economically to local 
businesses and to historic communities in these areas across the 
country. According to a recent study, in just five States, those States 
including Missouri, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and 
Virginia, 15.8 million visitors went to these Civil War sites and spent 
nearly $442 million in those local communities and supported 5,150 
jobs. We talk all the time up here about jobs and the economy. This is 
something that we can do to improve and enhance jobs and the economy in 
these local communities.
  We are blessed in Virginia, as Mr. Holt said, with a rich history. 
According to the Virginia Tourism Corporation, Civil War site visitors 
stay longer and spend more than twice as much as the average visitor to 
the Commonwealth. Preserving battlefields is good for local communities 
and businesses, and it's good for jobs and the economy.
  Mr. HOLT. Will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. WITTMAN. I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey.
  Mr. HOLT. I would like to add to his economic numbers the fiscal fact 
that this does not appropriate any funds. We are just reauthorizing 
existing legislation and extending it.
  I thank the gentleman.
  Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, again, the bill continues a modest 
investment of Federal resources to protect these hallowed grounds where 
independence was won and our Republic secured.
  I do want to reiterate what Mr. Holt said in that this legislation 
does not increase authorized spending. Proponents of this program 
sought to double the annual spending authorization and add 
Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 sites to those eligible for 
grants, but the committee made sure that there was no increase in 
spending and insisted that the proposal be added to keep the 
authorization flat at these current levels when adding additional war 
sites. We wanted to make sure we had the opportunity for sites to be 
included, but in understanding where we are with the Nation's deficit, 
we wanted to make sure that we could preserve these sites without 
adding to the deficit. I think this is a very responsible way to do 
that, to make sure that communities have the ability to do the things 
they need to do, and also to make sure we keep in mind the times that 
we face here at the Federal level.
  So I believe it's an extraordinarily good bill, and I urge my 
colleagues to support H.R. 1033.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wittman) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 1033.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

                          ____________________