Kiggans Advances Legislation to Extend and Strengthen America’s Battlefield Preservation Efforts

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Rep. Jen Kiggans (VA-02) addressed the House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Federal Lands regarding her legislation, H.R. 7618, the American Battlefield Protection Program Amendments Act of 2026. This bill would extend and increase federal resourcing for the American Battlefield Protection Program (ABPP) through 2035 and continue the important work of preserving and restoring America’s historic battlefields.

            Watch Rep. Kiggans’ remarks here.

Excerpts of Rep. Kiggans’ speech, as prepared for delivery:

As you may know, I have the privilege of representing Virginia’s Second Congressional District, home to some of the most historically significant landscapes in our country. From Revolutionary War sites to Civil War battlefields, Virginia is not just where history was made, it is where it continues to live, teach, and inspire future generations.

That is why I introduced H.R. 7618, the American Battlefield Protection Program Amendments Act, alongside my colleague Congressman Magaziner of Rhode Island. This bipartisan legislation reauthorizes and strengthens one of the most effective and widely supported preservation programs we have: the American Battlefield Protection Program.

This program has a proven track record. It allows willing sellers to partner with state and local governments, as well as nonprofit organizations to preserve critical battlefield land before it is lost to development. These are not just open spaces, they are sacred grounds. They are places where Americans fought, sacrificed, and, in many cases, gave their lives for the freedoms we enjoy today.

This legislation is about stewardship. It is about ensuring that future generations can walk these grounds, learn from them, and reflect on the cost of freedom. It is about honoring those who came before us, not just in words, but in action.

I am proud that this effort has long enjoyed bipartisan support, and I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to advance this important legislation.

Read Rep. Kiggans’ press release on the American Battlefield Protection Program Amendments Act here