[House Report 119-664]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
119th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session } { 119-664
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AMERICAN BATTLEFIELD PROTECTION PROGRAM AMENDMENTS ACT OF 2026
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May 20, 2026.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
----------------
Mr. Westerman, from the Committee on Natural Resources,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 7618]
The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred
the bill (H.R. 7618) to amend title 54, United States Code, to
modify certain cost-sharing requirements for grant programs
under the American Battlefield Protection Program, and for
other purposes, having considered the same, reports favorably
thereon with an amendment and recommends that the bill as
amended do pass.
The amendment is as follows:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``American Battlefield Protection
Program Amendments Act of 2026''.
SEC. 2. AMERICAN BATTLEFIELD PROTECTION PROGRAM GRANT PROGRAMS.
(a) Reauthorization of Battlefield Acquisition Grant Program.--
Section 308103(f) of title 54, United States Code, is amended by
striking ``2028'' and inserting ``2036''.
(b) Battlefield Interpretation Modernization Grant Program.--Section
308104 of title 54, United States Code, is amended by striking
subsection (d).
(c) Battlefield Restoration Grant Program.--Section 308105 of title
54, United States Code, is amended by striking subsection (e) and
inserting the following:
``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary to provide grants under section 308104
and this section $2,000,000 for each fiscal year through fiscal year
2036.''.
SEC. 3. FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR AND MEXICAN-AMERICAN WAR SITES STUDIES.
(a) In General.--Subject to the availability of appropriations made
in advance for such purpose, the Secretary of the Interior (acting
through the Director of the National Park Service) (referred to in this
section as the ``Secretary''), shall prepare or certify, pursuant to
subsection (b), studies of sites and structures located in the United
States that are thematically tied with nationally significant events
that occurred during--
(1) the French and Indian War from 1754-1763; and
(2) the Mexican-American War from 1846-1848.
(b) Preparation.--
(1) In general.--The studies under subsection (a) may be
carried out--
(A) by the Secretary, in consultation with affected
States, Indian Tribes, local governments, the American
Battlefield Trust, historic preservation organizations,
and any other interested individuals or entities, as
determined by the Secretary; or
(B) by interested individuals or entities, if the
Secretary certifies that the completed study meets the
requirements of subsection (c).
(2) Certification.--Not later than 1 year after receiving a
study carried out by interested individuals or entities under
subsection (b)(1)(B), the Secretary shall review and certify
whether the study meets the requirements of subsection (c).
(c) Contents.--The studies prepared under subsection (a) shall--
(1) identify French and Indian War and Mexican-American War
sites, respectively, located within the United States;
(2) determine the relative significance of the identified
sites;
(3) assess short- and long-term threats to the integrity of
the identified sites; and
(4) provide alternatives for the preservation and
interpretation of the identified sites by the Federal
Government, State, local, and Tribal governments, or other
public or private entities, including potential designation of
the identified sites as units of the National Park System, as
appropriate.
(d) Consideration of Previous Studies and Reports.--In preparing the
studies under subsection (b)(1), the Secretary shall consider and may
include information from previous studies and reports relating to
French and Indian War or Mexican-American War historic sites prepared
by the National Park Service, the American Battlefield Trust, or other
historic preservation organizations, as appropriate.
(e) Submission to Congress.--
(1) Studies carried out by the secretary.--With respect to
studies carried out by the Secretary in accordance with
subsection (b)(1)(A), the Secretary shall submit such studies
to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of
Representatives and Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
of the Senate not later than 2 years after the date on which
funds are made available to carry out such studies.
(2) Studies carried out by other interested parties.--With
respect to studies carried out by interested individuals or
entities in accordance with subsection (b)(1)(B), the Secretary
shall submit such studies to the Committee on Natural Resources
of the House of Representatives and Committee on Energy and
Natural Resources of the Senate not later than 180 days after
the date on which the Secretary certifies under subsection
(b)(2) that the studies meet the requirements of subsection
(c).
Purpose of the Legislation
The purpose of H.R. 7618 is to amend title 54, United
States Code, to modify certain cost-sharing requirements for
grant programs under the American Battlefield Protection
Program, and for other purposes.
Background and Need for Legislation
America's battlefields are hallowed sites, showcasing the
sacrifices, struggles, defeats, and triumphs that shaped our
country's history. From the American Revolution to the Civil
War, battlefield sites serve as outdoor classrooms that teach
each generation about the conflicts that forged our great
nation. Unfortunately, despite their rich histories, many of
these hallowed grounds have been lost or destroyed over the
centuries. Estimates suggest that ``60 percent of the 243
significant battles of the Revolution and War of 1812 retain no
`significant lands from the period of battle''' and ``more than
20 percent of important Civil War battles are similarly
destroyed forever.''\1\ To prevent further loss of sacred
battlefield sites, Congress created the American Battlefield
Protection Program (ABPP) in 1996.\2\ The ABPP provides grants
in four categories (battlefield land acquisition, battlefield
interpretation, battlefield restoration, and preservation
planning) to protect sites related to the Revolutionary War,
War of 1812, and the Civil War. Since its inception, the ABPP
has helped protect more than 100 battlefields in 42 states and
protect battlefield lands at 110 battlefield sites in 19
states.
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\1\``FAQS: Battlefield Preservation,'' American Battlefield Trust,
https://www.battlefields.org/about/faqs-battlefield-preservation#lost.
\2\``American Battlefield Protection Program: What We Do,''
National Park Service, https://www.nps.gov/orgs/2287/whatwedo.htm.
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In honor of America's 250th birthday, Representative Jen
Kiggans (R-VA-02) introduced H.R. 7618, the ``American
Battlefield Protection Program Amendments Act of 2026,'' to
reauthorize and improve the ABPP. The legislation extends the
ABPP's authorization from 2028 to 2036 and consolidates
separate authorizations for the Restoration and Interpretation
Modernization Grant Programs into a single, unified
authorization. The bill also directs the National Park Service
to undertake or certify a study on sites and structures related
to the French and Indian War and the Mexican-American War.
These two central conflicts from American history are not
currently included in the ABPP. This legislation will allow the
ABPP to continue keeping American battlefields intact for
generations to come, while positioning these landscapes to tell
a more complete story of the nation's military past, both
during and beyond the country's Semiquincentennial year. By
honoring our nation's military history and protecting hallowed
battlefields, this legislation directly advances the goals of
President Trump's executive order on ``Celebrating America's
250th Birthday.''\3\
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\3\``Celebrating America's 250th Birthday,'' The White House,
January 29, 2025, https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/
01/celebrating-americas-250th-birthday/.
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Committee Action
H.R. 7618 was introduced on February 20, 2026, by
Representative Jennifer Kiggans (R-VA-02). The bill was
referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and within the
Committee to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands. On March 26,
2026, the Subcommittee on Federal Lands held a hearing on the
bill. On April 21, 2026, the Committee on Natural Resources met
to consider the bill. The Subcommittee on Federal Lands was
discharged from further consideration of H.R. 7618 by unanimous
consent. Representative Jennifer Kiggans (R-VA-02) offered an
Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute designated Kiggans_143
ANS. The Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute was agreed to
by unanimous consent. The bill, as amended, was ordered
favorably reported to the House of Representatives by unanimous
consent.
Hearings
For the purposes of clause 3(c)(6) of House rule XIII, the
following hearing was used to develop or consider this measure:
hearing by the Subcommittee on Federal Lands held on March 26,
2026.
Section-by-Section Analysis
Section 1. Short title
Section 1 names the bill the ``American Battlefield
Protection Program Amendments Act of 2026''.
Section 2. American Battlefield Protection Program Grant Programs
Section 2 reauthorizes the Battlefield Acquisition Grant
Program through 2036. Section 2 also consolidates the
Battlefield Interpretation Modernization Grant Program and the
Battlefield Restoration Grant Program into a single
authorization at $2 million annually through 2036.
Section 3. French and Indian War and Mexican-American War sites
studies
Section 3 directs the Secretary of the Interior
(Secretary), subject to the availability of appropriations, to
prepare or certify studies of sites and structures associated
with nationally significant events from the French and Indian
War (1754-1763) and the Mexican-American War (1846-1848). The
Secretary may conduct such studies or certify a study completed
by interested individuals or entities. Section 3 stipulates
that the studies must identify relevant sites across the United
States and evaluate their significance, assess short- and long-
term threats to their integrity, and identify alternatives for
their conservation and interpretation. Section 3 allows the
Secretary to incorporate relevant information from prior
studies and reports. Finally, Section 3 requires the Secretary
to submit the studies to Congress not later than two years
after funds are made available for studies conducted by the
Secretary, or not later than 180 days after certifying a study
conducted by an interested individuals or entities.
Committee Oversight Findings and Recommendations
Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the
Committee on Natural Resources' oversight findings and
recommendations are reflected in the body of this report.
Compliance With House Rule XIII and Congressional Budget Act
1. Cost of Legislation and the Congressional Budget Act.
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(2) of House rule XIII and section
308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, and pursuant to
clause 3(c)(3) of House rule XIII and section 402 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee has requested
but not received from the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office a budgetary analysis and a cost estimate of this bill.
2. General Performance Goals and Objectives. As required by
clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general performance goal or
objective of this bill is to amend title 54, United States
Code, to modify certain cost-sharing requirements for grant
programs under the American Battlefield Protection Program, and
for other purposes.
Earmark Statement
This bill does not contain any Congressional earmarks,
limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined
under clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI of the Rules of
the House of Representatives.
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act Statement
An estimate of federal mandates prepared by the Director of
the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 423 of the
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act was not made available to the
Committee in time for the filing of this report. The Chair of
the Committee shall cause such estimate to be printed in the
Congressional Record upon its receipt by the Committee, if such
estimate is not publicly available on the Congressional Budget
Office website.
Existing Programs
Directed Rule Making. This bill does not contain any
directed rule makings.
Duplication of Existing Programs. This bill does not
establish or reauthorize a program of the federal government
known to be duplicative of another program. Such program was
not included in any report from the Government Accountability
Office to Congress pursuant to section 21 of Public Law 111-139
or identified in the most recent Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance published pursuant to the Federal Program
Information Act (Public Law 95-220, as amended by Public Law
98-169) as relating to other programs.
Applicability to Legislative Branch
The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public
services or accommodations within the meaning of section
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act.
Preemption of State, Local or Tribal Law
Any preemptive effect of this bill over state, local, or
tribal law is intended to be consistent with the bill's
purposes and text and the Supremacy Clause of Article VI of the
U.S. Constitution.
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new
matter is printed in italics, and existing law in which no
change is proposed is shown in roman):
TITLE 54, UNITED STATES CODE
* * * * * * *
SUBTITLE III--NATIONAL PRESERVATION PROGRAMS
* * * * * * *
CHAPTER 3081--AMERICAN BATTLEFIELD PROTECTION PROGRAM
* * * * * * *
Sec. 308103. Battlefield acquisition grant program
(a) Eligible Site Defined.--In this section, the term
``eligible site''--
(1) 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 Reports
as a battlefield; and
(2) excludes sites identified in the Battlefield
Reports as associated historic sites.
(b) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a
battlefield acquisition grant program under which the Secretary
may provide grants to States, Tribes, local governments, and
nonprofit organizations to pay the Federal share of the cost of
acquiring interests in eligible sites for the preservation and
protection of those eligible sites.
(c) Nonprofit Partners.--A State, Tribe, or local government
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) Limitation on Land Use.--An interest in an eligible site
acquired under this section, including by States, Tribes, local
governments, and nonprofit organizations, shall be subject to
section 200305(f)(3) of this title.
(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to
be appropriated to the Secretary to provide grants under this
section $18,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through
[2028] 2036.
Sec. 308104. Battlefield interpretation modernization grant program
(a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a
battlefield interpretation modernization grant program under
which the Secretary may provide competitive grants to States,
Tribes, local governments, and nonprofit organizations for
projects and programs that deploy technology to modernize
battlefield interpretation and education.
(b) Eligible Sites.--The Secretary may make grants under this
section for Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Civil War
battlefield sites eligible for assistance under the battlefield
acquisition grant program established under section 308103(b).
(c) Federal Share.--The Federal share of the cost of a
project or program funded through a grant provided under the
program established under subsection (a) shall be not more than
50 percent of the total cost of the applicable project or
program.
[(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to
be appropriated to the Secretary to provide grants under this
section $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2028.]
Sec. 308105. Battlefield restoration grant program
(a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a
battlefield restoration grant program (referred to in this
section as the ``program'') under which the Secretary may
provide grants to States, Tribes, local governments, and
nonprofit organizations for projects that restore day-of-battle
conditions on--
(1) land preserved and protected under the
battlefield acquisition grant program established under
section 308103(b); or
(2) battlefield land that is--
(A) owned by a State, Tribe, local
government, or nonprofit organization; and
(B) referred to in the Battlefield Reports.
(b) Eligible Sites.--The Secretary may make grants under this
section for Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Civil War
battlefield sites--
(1) eligible for assistance under the battlefield
acquisition grant program established under section
308103(b); or
(2) on battlefield land that is--
(A) owned by a State, Tribe, local
government, or nonprofit organization; and
(B) referred to in battlefield reports.
(c) Federal Share.--The Federal share of the cost of a
restoration project funded through a grant provided under the
program shall be not more than 50 percent of the total cost of
the project.
(d) Restoration Standards.--All restoration work carried out
through a grant awarded under the program shall be performed in
accordance with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for
the Treatment of Historic Properties under part 68 of title 36,
Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations).
[(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to
be appropriated to the Secretary to provide grants under this
section $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2028.]
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to
be appropriated to the Secretary to provide grants under
section 308104 and this section $2,000,000 for each fiscal year
through fiscal year 2036.
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[all]