The bill extends the battlefield acquisition grant program until 2036 and adjusts the authorization of appropriations for related grant programs. It requires studies of French and Indian War and Mexican-American War sites, with a focus on significance, threats, and preservation alternatives. The Secretary of the Interior will oversee these studies, considering inputs and preparing certifications. The bill mandates submission of studies to specific congressional committees within specified timeframes, and clarifies that these studies are included in the "Battlefield Reports."
American Battlefield Protection Program Amendments Act of 2026
This bill extends through FY2036 three National Park Service (NPS) grant programs that preserve U.S. battlefields and requires the NPS to study additional sites for potential preservation.
Specifically, the bill extends through FY2036 grant programs for the acquisition, interpretation modernization, and restoration of certain U.S. battlefields. (Under current law, the grants are authorized through FY2028.)
The bill also requires 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.