[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992-1993, Book II)]
[October 5, 1992]
[Page 1756]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement on Signing the Civil War Battlefield Commemorative Coin Act of 
1992
October 5, 1992

    I am signing into law H.R. 5126, the ``Civil War Battlefield 
Commemorative Coin Act of 1992.'' H.R. 5126 authorizes the Secretary of 
the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of 
the beginning of the protection of Civil War battlefields. The proceeds 
will go to the nonprofit Civil War Battlefield Foundation to be used for 
the preservation of historically significant Civil War battlefields.
    This legislation provides a nonfederal funding mechanism to enhance 
the protection of Civil War battlefields. The minting of these coins 
will cost the taxpayers nothing. The monies raised will make a major 
contribution to the preservation of our Civil War heritage. The greatest 
beneficiaries of this bill will be the future generations of Americans 
who will be able to relive more of the history of the Civil War era.
    Today, many of America's battlefields face unprecedented development 
pressures, and there is renewed interest in protecting them. My 
Administration has embarked on an ambitious campaign to identify and 
protect important battlefields through the American Battlefield 
Protection Program. This program is a national public/private 
partnership overseen by the Secretary of the Interior. The Civil War 
Battlefield Foundation is a privately established entity dedicated to 
raising funds for this endeavor. This legislation is timely in that it 
coincides with, and supports, this important program.
    Innovative public/private partnerships such as the kind supported by 
this legislation are a necessity if we are going to preserve our 
heritage to the fullest possible extent. Therefore, it is with great 
pleasure that I approve H.R. 5126.

                                                             George Bush

The White House,
October 5, 1992.

                    Note: H.R. 5126, approved October 5, was assigned 
                        Public Law No. 102-379.