American Battlefield Protection Program Enhancement Act of 2023
This bill expands the National Park Service's American Battlefield Protection Program.
The bill expands the battlefield acquisition grant program to allow grants to be (1) awarded to Indian tribes and nonprofit organizations, and (2) awarded to acquire certain Revolutionary War or War of 1812 battlefields.
The bill expands eligibility for the battlefield restoration grant program to include battlefield land that is owned by a state, tribe, local government, or nonprofit organization.
Not later than 2 years after this bill's enactment and every 10 years thereafter, the American Battlefield Protection Program must report to Congress on preservation activities and the condition of battlefields.
[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3448 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3448
To amend chapter 3081 of title 54, United States Code, to enhance the
protection and preservation of America's battlefields.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 17, 2023
Ms. Stefanik (for herself, Mr. Connolly, Mr. Ferguson, Ms. Letlow, Ms.
Wexton, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Mr. Clyde, Mr. Bacon, Mr.
Wittman, Mr. Bergman, Mr. Bishop of Georgia, Mr. Van Drew, Mr.
Ciscomani, Mr. Trone, Mr. Lamborn, Ms. Houlahan, and Mrs. McClellan)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend chapter 3081 of title 54, United States Code, to enhance the
protection and preservation of America's battlefields.
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 Enhancement Act''.
SEC. 2. AMERICAN BATTLEFIELD PROTECTION PROGRAM IMPROVEMENTS.
(a) Definitions.--Section 308101 of title 54, United States Code,
is amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 308101. Definitions
``In this chapter:
``(1) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary,
acting through the American Battlefield Protection Program.
``(2) Battlefield reports.--The term `Battlefield Reports'
means, collectively--
``(A) the document entitled `Report on the Nation's
Civil War Battlefields', prepared by the Civil War
Sites Advisory Commission, and dated July 1993; and
``(B) the document 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.''.
(b) Preservation Assistance.--Section 308102(a) of title 54, United
States Code, is amended by striking ``Federal'' and all that follows
through ``organizations'' and inserting ``Federal agencies, States,
Tribes, local governments, other public entities, educational
institutions, and nonprofit organizations''.
(c) Battlefield Land Acquisition Grants Improvements.--Section
308103 of title 54, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
``(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.'';
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ``State and local
governments'' and inserting ``States, Tribes, local
governments, and nonprofit organizations''; and
(3) in subsection (c), by striking ``State or local
government'' and inserting ``State, Tribe, or local
government''.
(d) Battlefield Restoration Grants Improvements.--Section 308105 of
title 54, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
``(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.'';
and
(2) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
``(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 the Battlefield Reports.''.
(e) Updates and Improvements.--Chapter 3081 of title 54, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 308106. Updates and improvements to Battlefield Reports
``Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this
section, and every 10 years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to
Congress a report that updates the Battlefield Reports to reflect--
``(1) preservation activities carried out at the
battlefields in the period since the publication of the most
recent Battlefield Reports update;
``(2) changes in the condition, including core and study
areas, of the battlefields during that period; and
``(3) any other relevant developments relating to the
battlefields during that period.''.
(f) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 3081 of
title 54, United States Code, is amended as follows:
(1) By amending the item relating to section 308101 to read
as follows:
``308101. Definitions''.
(2) By adding at the end the following:
``308106. Updates and improvements to Battlefield Reports''.
<all>
Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
Subcommittee Hearings Held
Subcommittee on Federal Lands Discharged
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 118-266.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 118-266.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 215.
Mr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5412-5414)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3448.
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5412-5413)
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On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5412-5413)
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Manchin without amendment. Without written report.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Manchin without amendment. Without written report.
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 647.