Congress·In Committee·H.R. 7618
American Battlefield Protection Program Amendments Act of 2026
Preservation: Protecting Historic Battlefields
Legislative Progress
House
Key Points
- This bill extends a federal program that helps save historic battlefields from being destroyed or built over. It keeps the grant program running until 2036 and sets aside $2 million every year to help fix up these sites and create educational displays for visitors.
- It makes it easier for local groups and states to protect history by changing the rules on who pays for projects. Currently, the federal government pays half the cost of restoration, but this bill would increase that to 75%, meaning local communities have to raise less money to qualify for federal help.
- The plan expands preservation efforts to include sites from the French and Indian War and the Mexican-American War. The National Park Service will study these locations to see which ones are in danger and if they should be turned into new National Parks.
- The National Park Service would have two years to finish its study on these older war sites. During that time, they must talk to governors, local leaders, and Native American Tribes to decide which locations are the most important to save for future generations.
Impact Analysis
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Milestones
4 milestones4 actions
Mar 26, 2026
Subcommittee Hearings Held
Mar 19, 2026
Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Feb 20, 2026
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Feb 20, 2026
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
News
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Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
American Battlefield Protection Program Amendments Act of 2026
Bill NumberHR 7618
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionSubcommittee Hearings Held
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
(3)D: 2R: 1
Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.