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HR7618FEDERALSession 119Federal Billpassed chamber

Passed

American Battlefield Protection Program Amendments Act of 2026

Last action · July 21, 2026: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held.Sponsors: Jennifer Kiggans and 6 others

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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Public stanceCommunity reactions are separate from the official record and reporting.

What This Bill Would Do

This bill extends the authorization for battlefield acquisition grants until 2036 and increases the federal share of costs for battlefield interpretation and restoration projects. It also mandates new studies on historic sites related to the French and Indian War and the Mexican-American War.

Why it matters

The bill changes the federal funding structure for historic preservation by increasing the government's share of project costs to 75% and authorizes $2 million annually through 2036 for specific grant programs.

Who It Would Affect

Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Historic preservation organizations

These groups are required to be consulted by the Secretary of the Interior during the site study process.

Directly affected

State and local governments

These entities are eligible for consultation and potential partnership in the preservation and interpretation of historic sites identified in the studies.

Directly affected

Indian Tribes

Tribal governments are required to be consulted regarding the identification and preservation of historic sites.

Key Facts

Extends the Battlefield Acquisition Grant Program authorization from 2028 to 2036.
Increases the federal cost-share limit for Battlefield Interpretation Modernization grants from 50% to 75%.
Increases the federal cost-share limit for Battlefield Restoration grants from 50% to 75%.
Authorizes $2 million in annual appropriations for interpretation and restoration grants through fiscal year 2036.

Show all 9 facts

Requires the Secretary of the Interior to conduct studies on French and Indian War (1754-1763) sites.
Requires the Secretary of the Interior to conduct studies on Mexican-American War (1846-1848) sites.
Mandates that studies identify sites, assess threats, and propose preservation alternatives including potential National Park System designation.
Requires the Secretary to consult with state governors, Indian Tribes, local governments, and historic preservation organizations during the study process.
Requires a report on the study findings to be submitted to Congress within 2 years of funding availability.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this bill change about battlefield grants?

It increases the federal government's share of costs for interpretation and restoration projects from 50% to 75% and extends the authorization for acquisition grants until 2036.

Which wars are the new studies focused on?

The studies will focus on sites related to the French and Indian War (1754-1763) and the Mexican-American War (1846-1848).

Will these studies lead to new National Parks?

The studies are required to evaluate the potential for designating identified sites as units of the National Park System, among other preservation alternatives.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

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Where This Stands

Currently passed chamber. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Law.

Procedural history

19 actions

Jul 21, 2026Senate
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held.
Jun 4, 2026SenateCommittee
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Jun 3, 2026House
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Jun 3, 2026HouseFloor
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 404 - 13 (Roll no. 192).
Jun 3, 2026HouseFloor
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 404 - 13 (Roll no. 192).
Jun 3, 2026House
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H3793-3794)

Show 13 earlier actions

Jun 2, 2026House
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
Jun 2, 2026House
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 7618.
Jun 2, 2026House
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3755-3757; text: CR H3755-3756)
Jun 2, 2026House
Mr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
May 20, 2026House
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 578.
May 20, 2026House
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-664.
Apr 21, 2026HouseCommittee
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by Unanimous Consent.
Apr 21, 2026House
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Apr 21, 2026House
Subcommittee on Federal Lands Discharged
Mar 26, 2026House
Subcommittee Hearings Held
Mar 19, 2026HouseCommittee
Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
Feb 20, 2026HouseCommittee
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Feb 20, 2026HouseIntroduced
Introduced in House

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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Voting Record

Outcome not reportedHouse6/3/2026Voteview

Total

410

Yes: 397
No: 13
Present: 0
Not voting: 0
Abstain: 0

How they voted (410)

386 more members

Robin KellyDyes

Brian BabinRyes

Juan CiscomaniRyes

Suhas SubramanyamDyes

Brittany PettersenDyes

Richard NealDyes

Steve WomackRyes

Jennifer McClellanDyes

Marilyn StricklandDyes

Michelle FischbachRyes

Bonnie Watson ColemanDyes

Nicole MalliotakisRyes

Shomari FiguresDyes

Adriano EspaillatDyes

Nicholas LangworthyRyes

Derrick Van OrdenRyes

Sydney Kamlager-DoveDyes

Janice SchakowskyDyes

April McClain DelaneyDyes

Melanie StansburyDyes

Brian FitzpatrickRyes

Guy ReschenthalerRyes

Carlos GimenezRyes

Michael BaumgartnerRyes

Ryan MackenzieRyes

Bradley SchneiderDyes

Valerie FousheeDyes

Eric SorensenDyes

Jamie RaskinDyes

Raja KrishnamoorthiDyes

Alexandria Ocasio-CortezDyes

Chip RoyRno

Barry MooreRyes

Jefferson Van DrewRyes

Christopher SmithRyes

Monica De La CruzRyes

George WhitesidesDyes

Charles FleischmannRyes

Debbie Wasserman SchultzDyes

Barry LoudermilkRyes

Abraham HamadehRyes

Brendan BoyleDyes

Anna Paulina LunaRyes

Richard McCormickRyes

Mariannette Miller-MeeksRyes

Christopher DeluzioDyes

Kristen McDonald RivetDyes

Show 1 earlier roll call

Motion succeededHouse6/3/2026U.S. CongressOfficial roll call ↗

On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended

Total

430

Yes: 404
No: 13
Present: 0
Not voting: 13
Abstain: 0

How they voted (2)

Kevin KileyRyes

Raúl GrijalvaDyes

Full roll-call analysis →

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift100% confidence

Increased Federal Cost Burden

The bill shifts a larger portion of the financial responsibility for battlefield interpretation and restoration from local/private entities to the federal government by increasing the grant share from 50% to 75%.

American Battlefield Protection Program

Connected Entities

Jennifer Kiggans, Seth Magaziner, American Battlefield Trust and 1 more

PersonJennifer Kiggans“Representative from Virginia who introduced the bill.”Map →

PersonSeth Magaziner“Representative who co-sponsored the bill.”Map →

OrganizationAmerican Battlefield Trust“Organization to be consulted for historic site studies.”Map →

OrganizationNational Park Service“Responsible for conducting the mandated historic site studies.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.congress.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance45
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy10
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz15
Current news / social attention level

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What This Bill Would Do

Who It Would Affect

Key Facts

Frequently Asked Questions

News Coverage

Where This Stands

Procedural history

Version history

Voting Record

Full breakdown

Sponsors

Discoveries

Increased Federal Cost Burden

Connected Entities

Sources

Analysis Score

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