A battlefield bill that wasn't a battle; Kaine's historic site bill wins committee approval

Some Washington legislation that hasn’t been a battle? The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee has given the nod – on a voice vote, no less – to Sen. Tim Kaine’s amendments to the American Battlefield Protection Program.

Kaine’s bill will make Revolutionary War and War of 1812 sites eligible for the National Park Service program that has long focused on preserving Civil War battlefields. It extends the program for another five years, at the current $10 million funding level for federal grants to match state and private donations to purchase and preserve battlefields at risk of being lost to development.

Kaine joined up with Sen Thad Cochran, R-Miss., to introduce the bill. Seven Democrats, five Republicans and one independent signed up as co-sponsors.  Voice vote, sponsors from both sides (all three sides?) of the aisle. Hmm … almost sounds like a Revolutionary idea doesn’t it? Or as shocking as when the British burned Washington in the War of 1812?

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