Kaine Praises Passage Of Bipartisan Battlefield Protection Bill Out Of Committee

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the American Battlefield Protection Program Amendments Act, a bill introduced by U.S. Senator Tim Kaine to preserve historical battlegrounds, was passed out of the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee on a voice vote. 

"Committee passage of this bipartisan bill is an important step toward preserving our nation's battlefields for future generations to enjoy," said Kaine. "This legislation will benefit Virginia and all states that are home to historic battlegrounds by boosting tourism, supporting local economies, and maintaining battlefields as living reminders of American history." 

In May, Kaine introduced the American Battlefield Protection Program Amendments Act with Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS), along with 13 other cosponsors – seven Democrats, five Republicans, and one independent. This legislation reauthorizes the National Park Service’s American Battlefield Protection Program, which offers competitive federal grants to match non-federal and private donations to preserve Civil War battlefields.  The bill extends the program, which expired last month, for five more years at the current $10 million funding level and also makes Revolutionary War and War of 1812 sites eligible for these grants.

Additionally, this week Kaine joined Senator Mark Warner to introduce a bill authorizing the expansion of Petersburg National Battlefield, making it the largest Civil War battlefield in the nation.  

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