The U.S. House of Representatives on June 3 approved bipartisan legislation led by U.S. Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA) that would support the preservation of America’s current and future historic battlefields.
The House voted 404-13 to advance the American Battlefield Protection Program Amendments Act of 2026, H.R. 7618, to modify certain cost-sharing requirements for grant programs under the American Battlefield Protection Program through fiscal year (FY) 2036, and sent the bill to the U.S. Senate for action.
“As we prepare to celebrate the 250th birthday of our great nation, preserving the places where America’s story was written has never been more important,” Rep. Kiggans said. “Our battlefields serve as a powerful reminder of the courage and sacrifice of those who came before us, as well as a symbol of what unites us as Americans.”
H.R. 7618, which Rep. Kiggans sponsored on Feb. 20 alongside lead cosponsor U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-RI), would extend through fiscal year 2036 three National Park Service (NPS) grant programs that preserve U.S. battlefields, and require the NPS to study additional sites for potential preservation. The grant programs would provide for the acquisition, interpretation, modernization, and restoration of certain U.S. battlefields.
“I’d like to thank Rep. Magaziner for his partnership in this effort to preserve these historic grounds and for the bipartisan support the bill received on the House floor today,” said the congresswoman on Wednesday. “By investing in preservation, we are ensuring that future generations will have the opportunity to learn from the individuals who shaped American history.”
If enacted, the bill also would require the NPS to prepare or certify studies of locations tied to significant events during the French and Indian War (1754-1763) and the Mexican-American War (1846-1848) for potential preservation, according to the Congressional Record bill summary.
“We must preserve these sacred sites and honor the brave Americans who fought on our soil to secure our nation’s freedom,” said Rep. Magaziner. “I am proud to help pass this important legislation so future generations can learn from, honor, and experience the places where history was made and so many sacrificed for our country.”
The American Battlefield Trust supports the measure, which will next be considered by the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.