Magaziner, Kiggans Bill to Preserve U.S. Battlefields Passes House Natural Resources Committee

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the House Committee on Natural Resources unanimously passed U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner’s (RI-02) bipartisan American Battlefield Protection Program Amendments Act of 2026, legislation he co-leads with Rep. Jenn Kiggans (VA-02). The legislation extends and increases federal funding for the American Battlefield Protection Program (ABPP), which preserves and restores some of the nation’s most historically significant battlefields.

As the nation marks the 250th anniversary of America’s founding, the legislation underscores the importance of preserving the very places where the fight for independence and the foundation of our democracy took shape.

“We have a responsibility to preserve and pass on the sites where our democracy and freedom were won,” said Magaziner. “These battlefields are sacred ground and a direct link to the bravery that shaped our nation. I am proud to have advanced this legislation alongside Rep. Kiggans  to ensure future generations can learn from, honor, and experience these historic sites.”

The legislation supports continued education and preservation efforts through the American Battlefield Land Acquisition Grants Program, a matching grant program that helps protect historically significant battlefields from the American Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and American Civil War.

The program is currently authorized through fiscal year 2028. This legislation extends authorization for an additional seven years, providing $20 million annually through 2035.

In addition, the bill directs the National Park Service to study opportunities to preserve significant battlefields from the French and Indian War and the Mexican-American War.