Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument Act

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5979, the Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument Act, legislation that I introduced that directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish the Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument as a unit of the National Park System.

On January 19, 1862, the small Kentucky town of Logan's Cross Roads erupted in a blast of artillery and musket fire as Confederate and Union forces clashed in the Battle of Mill Springs.

When the smoke cleared, it was clear that the Union was victorious and had secured its first significant victory in the Civil War. To honor the site, the Mill Springs Battlefield in Pulaski and Wayne Counties in Kentucky was designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark district in 1994.

Realizing the need to preserve and protect the battlefield for the future,

the Mill Springs Battlefield Association was founded in 1992. That association currently owns more than 900 acres of the battlefield that they have pieced together over the years with their own money and grant money from various sources. They even built a $1.7 million, 10,000- square-foot visitor center and museum at the site, which is adjacent to the Mill Springs National Cemetery, which, of course, was started by the deaths from this battle.

Mr. Speaker, while the association is currently doing an exemplary job in maintaining the battlefield, it simply does not have the financial resources to adequately preserve and maintain this site in perpetuity.

To ensure that the Mill Springs Battlefield is protected for future generations, I introduced this legislation to add the battlefield to the National Park System. This will ensure that the battlefield where the Union first tasted victory is protected, preserved, and promoted well into the future.

Mr. Speaker, this effort is supported by the Secretary of the Interior, Ryan Zinke, as well as the National Park Service.

It is also supported by many in Kentucky, including our Governor, our friends in our congressional delegation, and countless local and regional leaders.

It is also supported by the Battlefield Association which is willing to donate their property, some 900 of the acres, to make this national monument a reality.

I am particularly grateful to Chairman McClintock, Chairman Bishop, and their staff who worked closely with us to bring this bill to the floor. I can't thank the chairman enough for the great work that he does.

I would also like to specifically thank my friend and colleague, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who is ushering companion legislation through the Senate.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the men and women of the Mill Springs Battlefield Association. Without their decades of work to piece together and preserve this important site, none of this would be possible today. They stage an annual reenactment of this battle which is realistic to the nth degree, and I would invite everyone to attend the annual reunion of this battle in January of next year.

Mr. Speaker, I urge the passage of the Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument Act.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5979) to establish the Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument in the State of Kentucky as a unit of the National Park System, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5979, introduced by Representative Hal Rogers of Kentucky, establishes the Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument in Kentucky as a unit of the National Park System.

The Battle of Mill Springs was one of Kentucky's largest Civil War battles and played a crucial role in the Union's success by securing the Cumberland Gap and providing the gateway into Tennessee.

The Battle of Mill Springs bolstered the Union's morale, as it was the first major victory of the war following the disastrous defeat at First Manassas. Winning the battle enabled the Union to push all Confederate powers out of Kentucky and allowed them to advance into Confederate strongholds in Middle Tennessee.

Mill Springs Battlefield was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1994. The boundary was expanded in 2008 and now encompasses over 1,500 acres. The nonprofit Mill Springs Battlefield Association currently owns 900 acres of battlefield land and operates a visitors center at the site.

H.R. 5979 establishes the Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument as a unit of the National Park System. The proposed monument would be approximately 1,500 acres, of which 900 will be donated to the Park Service.

I am grateful to Mr. Rogers for sponsoring this legislation. It is the right way to create a national monument. Monuments ought to be created through the open legislative process of Congress and not via executive fiat.

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am now pleased to yield such time as he may consume to gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers), the distinguished author of this measure.

Mr. Speaker, these historic sites provide a tangible link between our generation and those who came before us and allow us to draw inspiration from the deeds and sacrifices of those who built this country and secured freedom for all Americans. This is an important part of that story, and I would ask for adoption of the measure.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, this bill, which is sponsored by Representative Rogers from Kentucky, establishes the Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument in the State of Kentucky to preserve, protect, and interpret for current and future generations, the historic resources of the Mill Springs Battlefield and its role in the American Civil War.

Mill Springs Battlefield in Pulaski County, Kentucky, was the site of the Union's first decisive victory in the western theater of the American Civil War. Given the Confederacy's presence in the South, the Union's performance in Kentucky was perceived as a pivotal turning point in the war.

President Abraham Lincoln articulated the strategic importance of Kentucky by stating: ``I hope to have God on my side, but I must have Kentucky.''

This monument designation is a fitting tribute to the historical significance of Mill Springs and an encouraging sign that we can continue to work across political lines to ensure that our most important places are preserved for future generations.

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge the support of this bill. I have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.