Battlefields to Get $9 Million

[Dignann]

Funding will save historic lands

America's endangered Civil War battlefields due to get record cash infusion

By CLINT SCHEMMER

The Free Lance-Star [Fredericksburg, Va.]
October 29, 2009

For those who value American history, this week should be one for the record books.

Communities across the nation are about to benefit from the largest appropriation for Civil War battlefield preservation that Congress has ever parceled out.

House and Senate members have included $9 million for preservation efforts in the fiscal 2010 Interior Appropriations Act conference report. That's nearly twice the previous single-year record for such projects, said Jim Campi, the chief government-relations official at the nonprofit Civil War Preservation Trust.

The conference report, due for a final vote in both chambers later this week, designates the money for the U.S. Department of the Interior's American Battlefield Preservation Program.

Created in 1990 in the wake of development controversies at Virginia's Manassas battlefield, the program matches government and private funds to permanently protect Civil War battle sites throughout the nation. In 2008, for example, the Virginia General Assembly set aside $5.2 million to match ABPP money.

"The American Battlefield Protection Program is always pleased when Congress recognizes the importance of saving battlefield landscapes and supports the hard work of the dedicated organizations that make preservation possible," Paul Hawke, the program's chief, said yesterday in reaction to the news. "We congratulate our partners--the Civil War Preservation Trust, state and local governments, and private nonprofits--on keeping the issue of battlefield preservation in the public eye."

Members of Virginia's congressional delegation--including Sens. Jim Webb and Mark Warner and 1st District Rep. Rob Wittman--supported the push for funding. Webb, who played a leading role in the effort, called the funding request's acceptance "welcome news."

"As America prepares for the 150th-anniversary commemoration of the Civil War, it is more important than ever that we preserve these landmarks for future generations to learn about the history of our nation," he said.

The conferees' report includes $200,000 for Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park. The park's use of the funds depends on what battlefield land is available for acquisition, Superintendent Russ Smith said.

"It's wonderful that Congress has appropriated such a large sum for the program," Smith said. "On the eve of the Civil War sesquicentennial, that will do a lot of good for battlefield preservation."

Wittman said he is pleased to have secured funding for the park to protect land that "honors the memory of those who fought while preserving our rich heritage for future generations."

"This is tremendous news that could not come at a more critical time," said James Lighthizer, president of the 55,000-member Preservation Trust. "Each day, 30 acres of our remaining Civil War battlefields are paved over and lost forever. This money will allow us to preserve thousands of acres of historic land that would otherwise be lost to development and urban sprawl."

To date, the National Park Service program has protected more than 15,000 acres at 58 battlefields in 14 states. Historic properties at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Manassas; Antietam and South Mountain, Md.; Harpers Ferry, W.Va.; Champion Hill, Miss.; and Chattanooga and Fort Donelson, Tenn., are among the sites saved.

http://www.fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2009/102009/10292009/504070

Eric

[dusty27]

Re: Battlefields to Get $9 Million

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 28, 2009
For more information, contact:
Jim Campi, CWPT, (202) 367-1861 x7205
Mary Koik, CWPT, (202) 367-1861 x7231
CONGRESS ALLOCATES $9 MILLION TO PRESERVE AMERICA'S ENDANGERED CIVIL WAR BATTLEFIELDS

CWPT praises Congress for its unprecedented commitment to protecting America's hallowed grounds

(Washington, D.C.) - The Civil War Preservation Trust (CWPT) today applauded members of the U.S. House and Senate for including the largest ever single-year allocation for the federal Civil War Battlefield Preservation Program in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 Interior Appropriations Act Conference Report (H Rept 111-316).

The conference report, scheduled for a final vote in both chambers later this week, includes $9 million for the Civil War Battlefield Preservation Program, a mechanism that utilizes government matching grants and private funds to permanently protect historic Civil War battlefields throughout the nation.

"This is tremendous news that could not come at a more critical time," said CWPT President James Lighthizer. Each day 30 acres of hallowed Civil War battlefield ground are paved over and lost forever. This money will allow us to preserve historic land that would otherwise be lost to development and urban sprawl."

The Civil War Battlefield Preservation Program targets priority unprotected Civil War sites outside National Park Service boundaries. The program's matching grants formula encourages state and private sector investment in historic land preservation. For example, in 2008 the Virginia General Assembly set aside $5.2 million to match federal Civil War Battlefield Preservation Program monies. Grants from the program are competitively awarded by the American Battlefield Protection Program, an arm of the National Park Service.

Since its creation in 1999, the Civil War Battlefield Preservation Program has been used to protect more than 15,000 acres of hallowed ground at 60 battlefields in 14 states. Among the sites saved as a result of this program are historic properties at Antietam and South Mountain, Md.; Champion Hill, Miss.; Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg, and Manassas, Va.; Chattanooga and Fort Donelson, Tenn.; and Harpers Ferry, W.Va. The program is funded through the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund.

Although numerous members of the House and Senate have played important roles in ensuring the program's continued success, the following individuals were pivotal in securing this year's unprecedented federal commitment to battlefield preservation: Interior Appropriations Subcommittee Chairs Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Norm Dicks (D-WA); Senators Jim Webb (D-VA), Lamar Alexander (R-TN), and Jeff Sessions (R-AL); and Congressmen, Bart Gordon (D-TN), Steve Israel (D-NY), Gary Miller (R-CA) and C.A. "Dutch" Ruppersberger (D-MD). In addition, 16 Senators and 29 Member of Congress signed letters of support for the program earlier this year.

"It is welcome news that our $9 million funding request for battlefield preservation was accepted in the Interior Appropriations bill," said Senator Webb. "As America prepares for the 150th anniversary commemoration of the Civil War, it is more important than ever that we preserve these landmarks for future generations to learn about the history of our nation."

Senator Alexander concurred, saying, "The Civil War was a heartbreaking time in our history that we should never forget. Protecting our Civil War battlefields and historic sites is important both to honor the thousands who fought and to allow future generations to learn their heritage by visiting sites like Shiloh, Lookout Mountain, Fort Donelson and Parker's Crossroads. I'm glad to see that this funding was included to support this important program."

"America's Civil War battlefields are part of our nation's rich heritage, but sadly thousands of acres of battlefields are being lost every year. It is incumbent upon all of us to ensure our children and grandchildren have the opportunity to visit these sacred grounds and experience part of history," remarked Congressman Ruppersberger.

This vision was also shared by Congressman Miller, who first introduced legislation authorizing the program in 2002. Miller noted, "I have been a long time advocate for preservation of our nation's historic battlefields. These battlefields offer a porthole to the past. The vivid imagery of an epic conflict can remind visitors of the struggles our country has gone through to preserve the banner of liberty and justice for all."

Like Senator Webb, Lighthizer also stressed that the upcoming 150th anniversary of the Civil War presents an ideal time to redouble efforts to protect this hallowed ground. "I can think of no more fitting - and lasting - tribute during this sesquicentennial commemoration than to preserve the places where these brave soldiers fought and bled."

The Civil War Battlefield Preservation Program was reauthorized in March 2009 as part of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (PL 111-11). The legislation, introduced in the Senate by Senators Webb and Sessions and in the House by Congressmen Miller, Israel and Gordon, reauthorized the program for $10 million a year for five years. The popular bill enjoyed considerable bipartisan support, earning 33 cosponsors in the Senate and 108 cosponsors in the House.

With 55,000 members, CWPT is the largest nonprofit battlefield preservation organization in the United States. Its mission is to preserve our nation's remaining Civil War battlefields and to promote appreciation of these hallowed grounds through education and heritage tourism. The CWPT website is located at www.civilwar.org.

###
For more information about the program's congressional supporters, visit CWPT online at www.civilwar.org/aboutus/news/news-releases/2009-news/congress-allocates-9-million.html.

[ohio volunteer]

Re: Battlefields to Get $9 Million

Joe,

Really? Is that comment needed? Is this a Politics folder? Last time I checked it said Civil War Preservation...

Can we just celebrate this as a good day for Civil War preservation and leave it at that?

[jigadier brindle]

Re: Battlefields to Get $9 Million

Fortunately, this program does not draw its funding from the general revenue, rather the funding for this program (which is a part of the Land and Water Conservation Fund) comes from fees paid by offshore oil and natural gas drilling. So, companies that drill on public lands pay fees - which is used to purchase parkland and open space in the US.

Better yet, the Civil War Battlefield Protection Program also spurs investment from, "private donations, fund raisers, and corporate sponsors." In fact, the grants are "matching" - its no handout. Non-profits and state and local governments must provide a 50% match to be eligible for the program. This is exactly how groups like CWPT utilize the grants.

I must say, this is a MUCH better shake for the taxpayer. Consider this, when the Federal government/NPS preserved a major tract at Manassas in the late 1980s it cost over $272,000 per acre for 500 acres, amounting to a $112 million price tag! A massive outlay - for a small amount of land.

Today, the Civil War Battlefield Protection Program exists to spur private investment and avoid situations like the Manassas acquisition of the late 80s. Since the creation of CWBPP in 1999 - over 15,000 acres have been preserved for roughly $49 million dollars.

In part, it's this program that has preserved such hallowed ground as the "Slaughter Pen Farm" at Fredericksburg (the last extant attack field), major tracts of land Brandy Station (the largest cavalry clash of the war), hundreds of acres at Bentonville, NC, and major portions of the last remaining attack fields at Ft. Donelson, TN - to name just a few.

I think on this forum we all agree - battlefield preservation is a good thing. It benefits our understanding of the past, provides a firm foundation for our children to learn about the past, its great for local economies, and heck, its great environmentally. Obviously we also would like to see our Federal dollars spent wisely - and this is exactly what this program accomplishes.

Just my .02 cents,

Respectfully,