Changes to Battlefield Grant Program

American Battlefield Protection Program Amendments Act of 2026This 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.

1. This bill modifies how much money local governments must contribute for battlefield preservation grants. 2. It aims to make it easier for more projects to receive funding for protecting historic battlefields. 3. The bill adjusts the cost-sharing requirements for these grants to encourage more applications. 4. It supports the American Battlefield Protection Program, which helps preserve important historical sites. 5. The changes could lead to more successful preservation efforts across the country.

Local governments and organizations working to preserve historic battlefields will benefit from these changes.