H.R. 3448House118th Congress (2023-2025)Passed House

American Battlefield Protection Program Enhancement Act of 2023

Introduced May 17, 2023

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 20, 2026 at 7:45 AM UTC

The American Battlefield Protection Program Enhancement Act of 2023 updates federal law to improve how historic battlefields are protected and preserved. It expands the types of organizations that can receive federal assistance, clarifies which sites qualify for grants, and adds a regular reporting requirement on battlefield conditions. The changes affect the Secretary of the Interior’s American Battlefield Protection Program, states, tribes, local governments, educational institutions, nonprofit groups, and historic battlefield sites.

Key Provisions

  • Defines “Secretary” as the Secretary acting through the American Battlefield Protection Program and specifies the two historic Battlefield Reports that guide the program
  • Broadens preservation assistance eligibility to include federal agencies, states, tribes, local governments, other public entities, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations
  • Refines the definition of an “eligible site” for acquisition grants to focus on sites identified in the Battlefield Reports and excludes associated historic sites
  • Expands grant eligibility for battlefield acquisition and restoration to states, tribes, local governments, and nonprofit organizations, covering Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Civil War sites
  • Creates a new requirement for the Secretary to submit updated Battlefield Reports to Congress within two years of enactment and every ten years thereafter
  • Updates the table of sections to reflect the new definitions and reporting provision

Legislative Activity

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19 earlier actions
SenateCalendars Latest Action

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 647.

November 21, 2024

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

May 17, 2023

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

May 17, 2023

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.

May 22, 2023

HouseCommittee

Subcommittee Hearings Held

July 13, 2023

HouseCommittee

Subcommittee on Federal Lands Discharged

September 20, 2023

HouseCommittee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

September 20, 2023

HouseCommittee

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.

September 20, 2023

HouseCommittee

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 118-266.

November 3, 2023

HouseCalendars

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 215.

November 3, 2023

HouseFloor

Mr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

November 6, 2023 • 3:47 PM

HouseFloor

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5412-5414)

November 6, 2023 • 3:47 PM

HouseFloor

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3448.

November 6, 2023 • 3:47 PM

HouseFloor

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5412-5413)

November 6, 2023 • 3:57 PM

HouseFloor

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5412-5413)

November 6, 2023 • 3:57 PM

HouseFloor

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

November 6, 2023 • 3:57 PM

SenateIntro Referral

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

November 7, 2023

SenateCommittee

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held.

May 15, 2024

SenateCommittee

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

November 19, 2024

SenateCommittee

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Manchin without amendment. Without written report.

November 21, 2024

SenateCalendars

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 647.

November 21, 2024

Floor Debate

5 members

What members said about H.R. 3448 on the floor

3 Republicans2 Democrats
Monica De La Cruz
Rep. Monica De La CruzR-TX-15 · Sep 12, 2023

Under clause 7 of rule XII, sponsors were added to public bills and resolutions, as follows: H.R. 16: Ms. Tokuda, Mr. Magaziner, Mr. Casten, Mr. Casar, Mr. Sherman, Ms. Caraveo, and Mr. Sablan. H.R.…

Bruce Westerman
Rep. Bruce WestermanR-AR-4 · Nov 6, 2023

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3448) to amend chapter 3081 of title 54, United States Code, to enhance the protection and preservation of America's battlefields, as…

Elise M. Stefanik
Rep. Elise M. StefanikR-NY-21 · Nov 6, 2023

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chair for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my legislation, the American Battlefield Protection Program Enhancement Act. I take the time to thank our…

Raúl M. Grijalva
Rep. Raúl M. GrijalvaD-AZ-7 · Nov 6, 2023

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3448, the American Battlefield Protection Program Enhancement Act, reauthorizes and updates the American Battlefield…

Gerald E. Connolly
Rep. Gerald E. ConnollyD-VA-11 · Nov 6, 2023

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of the American Battlefield Protection Program Enhancement Act, a vital piece of legislation that I had the privilege of introducing with my fellow…

Bill Text

5 versions available

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Latest
Reported to SenateIssued November 21, 2024

II

Calendar No. 647

118th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 3448

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

November 7, 2023

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

November 21, 2024

Reported by Mr. Manchin, without amendment

AN ACT

To amend chapter 3081 of title 54, United States Code, to enhance the protection and preservation of America’s battlefields.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the American Battlefield Protection Program Enhancement Act of 2023.

2.

American battlefield protection program improvements

(a)

Definitions

Section 308101 of title 54, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

308101.

Definitions

In this chapter:

(1)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary, acting through the American Battlefield Protection Program.

(2)

Battlefield Reports

The term Battlefield Reports means, collectively—

(A)

the document entitled Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields, prepared by the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission, and dated July 1993; and

(B)

the document entitled Report to Congress on the Historic Preservation of Revolutionary War and War of 1812 Sites in the United States, prepared by the National Park Service, and dated September 2007.

.

(b)

Preservation assistance

Section 308102(a) of title 54, United States Code, is amended by striking Federal and all that follows through organizations and inserting Federal agencies, States, Tribes, local governments, other public entities, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations.

(c)

Battlefield Land Acquisition Grants Improvements

Section 308103 of title 54, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

(a)

Eligible site defined

In this section, the term eligible site

(1)

means a site that—

(A)

is not within the exterior boundaries of a unit of the National Park System; and

(B)

is identified in the Battlefield Reports as a battlefield; and

(2)

excludes sites identified in the Battlefield Reports as associated historic sites.

;

(2)

in subsection (b), by striking State and local governments and inserting States, Tribes, local governments, and nonprofit organizations;

(3)

in subsection (c), by striking State or local government and inserting State, Tribe, or local government; and

(4)

in subsection (e), by striking under this section and inserting under this section, including by States, Tribes, local governments, and nonprofit organizations,.

(d)

Battlefield Restoration Grants Improvements

Section 308105 of title 54, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

(a)

Establishment

The Secretary shall establish a battlefield restoration grant program (referred to in this section as the program) under which the Secretary may provide grants to States, Tribes, local governments, and nonprofit organizations for projects that restore day-of-battle conditions on—

(1)

land preserved and protected under the battlefield acquisition grant program established under section 308103(b); or

(2)

battlefield land that is—

(A)

owned by a State, Tribe, local government, or nonprofit organization; and

(B)

referred to in the Battlefield Reports.

; and

(2)

by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:

(b)

Eligible sites

The Secretary may make grants under this section for Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Civil War battlefield sites—

(1)

eligible for assistance under the battlefield acquisition grant program established under section 308103(b); or

(2)

on battlefield land that is—

(A)

owned by a State, Tribe, local government, or nonprofit organization; and

(B)

referred to in the Battlefield Reports.

.

(e)

Updates and improvements

Chapter 3081 of title 54, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

308106.

Updates and improvements to Battlefield Reports

Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this section, and every 10 years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that updates the Battlefield Reports to reflect—

(1)

preservation activities carried out at the battlefields in the period since the publication of the most recent Battlefield Reports update;

(2)

changes in the condition, including core and study areas, of the battlefields during that period; and

(3)

any other relevant developments relating to the battlefields during that period.

.

(f)

Clerical amendment

The table of sections for chapter 3081 of title 54, United States Code, is amended as follows:

(1)

By amending the item relating to section 308101 to read as follows:

308101. Definitions.

.

(2)

By adding at the end the following:

308106. Updates and improvements to Battlefield Reports.

.

November 21, 2024

Reported without amendment