American Battlefield Protection Program Amendments Act of 2026

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 7618 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7618

To amend title 54, United States Code, to modify certain cost-sharing requirements for grant programs under the American Battlefield Protection Program, and for other purposes.

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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 20, 2026

Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia (for herself and Mr. Magaziner) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

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A BILL

To amend title 54, United States Code, to modify certain cost-sharing requirements for grant programs under the American Battlefield Protection Program, and for other purposes.

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 Amendments Act of 2026''.

SEC. 2. AMERICAN BATTLEFIELD PROTECTION PROGRAM GRANT PROGRAMS.

(a) Reauthorization of Battlefield Acquisition Grant Program.-- Section 308103(f) of title 54, United States Code, is amended by striking ``2028'' and inserting ``2036''. (b) Battlefield Interpretation Modernization Grant Program.-- Section 308104 of title 54, United States Code, is amended-- (1) in subsection (c), by striking ``50'' and inserting ``75''; and (2) by striking subsection (d). (c) Battlefield Restoration Grant Program.--Section 308105 of title 54, United States Code, is amended-- (1) in subsection (c), by striking ``50'' and inserting ``75''; and (2) by striking subsection (e) and inserting the following: ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to provide grants under section 308104 and this section $2,000,000 for each fiscal year through fiscal year 2036.''.

SEC. 3. FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR AND MEXICAN-AMERICAN WAR SITES STUDIES.

(a) In General.--The Secretary of the Interior (acting through the Director of the National Park Service) (referred to in this section as the ``Secretary''), shall prepare studies of sites and structures located in the United States that are thematically tied with nationally significant events that occurred during-- (1) the French and Indian War from 1754-1763; and (2) the Mexican-American War from 1846-1848. (b) Contents.--The studies prepared under subsection (a) shall-- (1) identify French and Indian War and Mexican-American War sites, respectively, located within the United States; (2) determine the relative significance of the identified sites; (3) assess short- and long-term threats to the integrity of the identified sites; and (4) provide alternatives for the preservation and interpretation of the identified sites by the Federal Government, State, local, and Tribal governments, or other public or private entities, including potential designation of the identified sites as units of the National Park System, as appropriate. (c) Consideration of Previous Studies and Reports.--In preparing the studies under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consider and may include information from previous studies and reports relating to French and Indian War or Mexican-American War historic sites prepared by the National Park Service, the American Battlefield Trust, or other historic preservation organizations, as appropriate. (d) Consultation.--In preparing the studies under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult with-- (1) the Governor of each affected State; (2) each affected Indian Tribe; (3) each affected unit of local government; (4) the American Battlefield Trust and other national, Tribal, State, and local historic preservation organizations; and (5) other interested entities or persons. (e) Submission to Congress.--Not later than 2 years after the date on which funds are made available to carry out the studies under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that describes the results of the studies. <all>