House Bill Would Extend Nation’s Top Heritage Land Preservation Program Through 2035

(Washington, D.C.) — U.S. Representatives Jen Kiggans (R-VA) and Seth Magaziner (D-RI) have introduced a bill to extend America’s most successful heritage land conservation program for nearly a decade. H.R.7618 is a companion bill to the American Battlefield Protection Program Amendments Act of 2025 (S.3524), which U.S. Senators Dave McCormick (R-PA) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) introduced last December. The investment in historic battlefield preservation comes just in time for America’s semiquincentennial and the 250th anniversary of the Revolutionary War.

The bill would reauthorize three American Battlefield Protection Program (ABPP) grant programs through 2035, designating $20 million annually and lowering barriers to participation by local and regional nonprofits and battlefield park friends groups. Additionally, the legislation would direct the National Park Service (NPS) and the Department of the Interior to prepare more detailed strategic studies of sites related to the French and Indian War and the Mexican-American War.

Congresswoman Kiggans said, “As our nation prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday, there is no better time to recommit ourselves to saving America’s historic landscape. As members of Congress and stewards of our nation’s history, it is our responsibility to ensure the preservation of the historic sites where the brave soldiers fought and died for our independence. I’m proud to introduce this legislation alongside Rep. Magaziner to reauthorize and increase resourcing to the American Battlefield Protection Program and ensure our nation’s historic sites are safeguarded for future generations.”

“America’s battlefields are a direct link to our history, each one telling the stories of the Americans whose incredible bravery has sustained our nation,” said Congressman Magaziner. “I am proud to co-lead the reintroduction of the American Battlefield Protection Program reauthorization bill to ensure future generations can experience, learn from, and honor our nation’s sacred ground.”

For a quarter-century, the ABPP’s Battlefield Land Acquisition Grant Program (BLAG) has been the principal mechanism for public-private partnerships to preserve these irreplaceable historic landscapes. This funding stream is more important than ever as land prices skyrocket throughout the nation, driven by an explosion of data centers and related commercial development that is driving per-acre acquisition costs to record highs.

“The introduction of this bill is a major step forward in the preservation movement,” said American Battlefield Trust President David Duncan. “These lawmakers understand the power of place of America’s battlegrounds and are ensuring these outdoor classrooms educate both current and future generations about some of the most fundamental moments in our country’s history.”

More than $250 million in federal funding has been competitively awarded through the program, matched many times over by private sector contributions and state and local grants. This process has allowed nonprofit groups to save battlefield land associated with some of the most iconic clashes in our country’s history, including Appomattox, Brandywine, Chattanooga, Gettysburg, Petersburg, Princeton, Saratoga and Vicksburg. Overall, more than 36,000 acres of historic open space have been preserved in 20 states.  

Currently, BLAG funding can be used to preserve land outside NPS boundaries at high priority battlefields from the Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and the Civil War. The bill directs NPS to investigate the feasibility of expanding eligibility for BLAG grants to sites related to the French and Indian War and the Mexican-American War, building on 2020 studies funded by ABPP and conducted by Michigan State University and the American Battlefield Trust. It also includes targeted improvements to BLAG’s sister programs: the Battlefield Interpretation Grant Program and the Battlefield Restoration Grant Program. Most significantly, it decreases the restoration grant private match requirement to 25 percent, lowering the fundraising barrier for local organizations and battlefield park friends groups.  

The American Battlefield Trust is dedicated to preserving America’s hallowed battlegrounds and educating the public about what happened there and why it matters today. The nonprofit, nonpartisan organization has protected more than 60,000 acres associated with the Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and Civil War across 160 sites in 25 states. Learn more at www.battlefields.org. 

###