Hinds Today

The United States Senate has passed the American Battlefield Protection Program Enhancement Act, a bipartisan initiative spearheaded by Senators Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi and Tim Kaine of Virginia. This legislation aims to enhance the protection of historic battlefields across the country.

The act was approved unanimously as part of a broader lands package and is now set to be signed into law. It updates the existing American Battlefield Protection Program (ABPP), which is managed by the National Park Service. The program focuses on preserving important historical battlefields and sites of armed conflict throughout the United States. To date, ABPP has facilitated the preservation of over 35,000 acres of historic land in 20 states, including Mississippi and Virginia.

"Mississippi is home to some of our nation’s most significant and historic battlefields, and this legislation will make it easier to protect these hallowed grounds for future generations," stated Senator Hyde-Smith. She emphasized her collaboration with Senator Kaine to ensure that the program more effectively safeguards sites where key moments in American history occurred.

Senator Kaine highlighted Virginia's rich military history: "From Yorktown to Appomattox to the Pentagon, you can’t map America’s military history without Virginia." He expressed satisfaction in working alongside Senator Hyde-Smith to secure Senate approval for their bill, emphasizing its importance in allowing Americans to visit these sites and learn about national history. Kaine also called on President Biden to sign the bill into law.

The bill received support from several other senators, including Mark R. Warner, Ben Cardin, John Cornyn, Chris Van Hollen, Roger Wicker, Thom Tillis, John Boozman, Ted Cruz, and Steve Daines. Additionally, U.S. Representative Michael Guest sponsored a companion measure in the House.