American Battlefield Protection Program

American Battlefield Protection Program

Updated April 30, 2024
American Battlefield Protection Program
The American Battlefield Protection Program (ABPP; 54
Preservation Study (P.L. 113-291). Grants awarded through
U.S.C. §§308101-308105) is a grant program administered
this program require at least a 50% nonfederal cost share.
by the National Park Service (NPS) aimed at promoting the
preservation of sites where “historic battles were fought on
Battlefield Interpretation Modernization and
American soil” (54 U.S.C. §308101 note). Initiated by the
Battlefield Restoration Grant Programs
Secretary of the Interior in 1991, the program was
Following authorization by Congress in 2019, NPS now
authorized by Congress in 1996 in the American Battlefield
awards two new types of ABPP grants. The Battlefield
Protection Act of 1996 (P.L. 104-333). At that time, the
Interpretation Modernization Grant Program (54 U.S.C.
program’s authorization primarily addressed the
§308104) funds projects and programs that deploy
preservation and protection of Civil War battlefields
technology to modernize battlefield interpretation and
through conservation easements or land acquisition from
education. The Battlefield Restoration Grant Program (54
willing sellers. Since then, Congress has reauthorized the
U.S.C. §308105) provides funding for projects that restore
program multiple times and expanded the program to
day-of-battle conditions. Eligible sites for both programs
protect other types of battlefield sites. Over the course of
pertain to Revolutionary War, War of 1812, or Civil War
the program’s existence, Congress has expressed interest in
battlefield lands. NPS generally provides two types of
its funding levels, eligibility requirements, acquisition
grants for each program: (1) scoping grants to fund the
limits, and other related issues.
early stages of project development, such as research,
consultation, and evaluation to determine appropriate
ABPP Grant Programs
treatment options, and (2) implementation grants for
The ABPP historically has comprised two competitive grant
projects ready for completion. Both programs require at
programs: the Battlefield Planning Grant Program and the
least a 50% nonfederal cost share for project proposals.
Battlefield Land Acquisition Grant Program. In 2019,
Congress authorized two additional new grant programs
Authorization and Funding History
(P.L. 116-94)—the Battlefield Interpretation Modernization
NPS first awarded grants for projects at historic battlefields
Grant Program and the Battlefield Restoration Grant
in 1992, following the creation of the program in 1991
Program.
under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior. In 1996,
Congress codified the program in the American Battlefield
Battlefield Planning Grant Program
Protection Act of 1996 (Section 604 of P.L. 104-333),
Under the Battlefield Planning Grant Program (54 U.S.C.
authorizing $3 million annually for 10 years to assist in
§308102), NPS awards grants to groups, institutions,
“planning, interpreting, and protecting” historic battlefield
organizations, governments (local, state, and tribal), and
sites. Congress reauthorized the Battlefield Planning Grant
federal entities sponsoring preservation projects at historic
Program in 2002 and authorized an additional $10 million
battlefields. The program supports projects that include site
to be appropriated for each of FY2004 through FY2008
identification and documentation, planning and consensus
(P.L. 107-359) for a land acquisition grant program. In
building, and educational programs, among others. Any
March 2009, Congress passed new legislation (P.L. 111-11)
battlefield or associated site on American soil is eligible for
authorizing discretionary appropriations of $3 million
funding under this grant program. Planning grants are not
annually for the Battlefield Planning Grant Program in
awarded for land acquisition or capital improvements.
perpetuity and $10 million annually for the Battlefield Land
Applicants are encouraged but not required to provide
Acquisition Grant Program from FY2009 through FY2013.
matching funds or in-kind services.
Congress subsequently has extended the authorization of
funding for acquisition grants multiple times. The program
Battlefield Land Acquisition Grant Program
is currently authorized to receive $18 million annually
Under the Battlefield Land Acquisition Grant Program (54
through FY2028 (54 U.S.C. §308103(f)). In 2019, Congress
U.S.C. §308103), grants are awarded to state and local
established the Battlefield Interpretation Modernization and
governments seeking fee simple acquisition of eligible
Battlefield Restoration grant programs and authorized up to
battlefield land or the acquisition of permanent protective
$1 million for each program for each of FY2020 through
interests (easements) in battlefield land. Eligible sites for
FY2028.
Battlefield Acquisition grants pertain to Revolutionary War,
War of 1812, or Civil War battlefield lands. Specifically,
Planning grants are funded in annual appropriations acts
eligibility is limited to battlefields listed in the Civil War
within NPS’s National Recreation and Preservation
Sites Advisory Commission’s 1993 Report on the Nation’s
(NR&P) account. Appropriations for the program are split
Civil War Battlefields and, as of 2014, those listed in the
between two subaccounts within the NR&P account: direct
2007 The Revolutionary War and War of 1812 Historic
grant-making funds are provided under the Cultural
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American Battlefield Protection Program
Programs activity, and grant administration funding is
FY2024 figures are enacted amounts and do not include inflation-
provided under a separate Grants Administration activity.
adjusted totals.
Notes: Totals do not reflect appropriations for grant administration.
Funding for the Acquisition, Interpretation, and Restoration
Current dol ars converted to real (inflation-adjusted) 2023 dol ars
grant programs comes from the Land and Water
using the GDP (Chained) Price Index column in Table 10.1 from the
Conservation Fund (LWCF; 54 U.S.C. §§200301 et seq.).
Office of Management and Budget, “Historical Tables.”
Appropriations from the LWCF were previously provided
as discretionary funding. In August 2020, the Great
Grantmaking: FY2019-FY2023
American Outdoors Act (GAOA; P.L. 116-152) established
Over the last five fiscal years (FY2019-FY2023), NPS has
mandatory spending for the LWCF. As a result, starting in
awarded more than $58 million in ABPP grants, the
FY2021, funding levels for the three programs are
majority (87%) through the Battlefield Land Acquisition
considered in the context of presidential and congressional
Grant Program. (See Figure 2 for an overview of the five
allocations of the LWCF mandatory appropriation. For
states that received the most ABPP funding cumulatively
more information on this process, see CRS In Focus
for FY2019-FY2023.) Through the land acquisition
IF11636, The Great American Outdoors Act (P.L. 116-
program, NPS has awarded more than 100 grants in 15
152), by Carol Hardy Vincent, Laura B. Comay, and Bill
states since FY2019, with the average grant award totaling
Heniff Jr.
roughly $465,000. More than half of the total grant funding
awarded during this period went to battlefield acquisitions
Funding Trends
in Virginia ($25.3 million), followed by Tennessee with just
Over the 10-year period from FY2015 to FY2024, overall
over $7.1 million awarded.
funding for the ABPP generally increased in both actual
terms (+102%) and inflation-adjusted or real terms (+62%).
Individual project funding for planning grants historically
However, funding trends for individual grant programs
has ranged from $5,000 to more than $200,000. For
varied. Actual appropriations for the Battlefield Planning
FY2019-FY2023, NPS awarded 65 grants to organizations
Grant Program have remained unchanged at roughly $1.2
in more than 30 states, with the average grant award
million annually since FY2015, reflecting a 20% reduction
totaling just over $91,000. New York received the largest
in real dollars. By contrast, funding for the Battlefield Land
share of program funding since FY2019, with more than
Acquisition Grant Program has increased in both actual
$600,000 awarded for seven projects, followed by Florida.
(+94%) and real (+55%) terms over this period. Actual
funding for this program remained unchanged at $10
In FY2021, NPS awarded the first round of 11 grants as
million from FY2016 to FY2019 before increasing to $13
part of the Battlefield Interpretation Modernization Grant,
million and $17.4 million in FY2020 and FY2021,
totaling more than $900,000. To date, NPS has awarded 19
respectively. Funding has not exceeded $17.4 million in
grants totaling more than $1.5 million in funding through
actual dollars since FY2021. Congress first appropriated
the program. NPS announced the first grant cycle for the
funding for the Battlefield Interpretation and Restoration
Battlefield Restoration Grant Program in FY2022, with four
grant programs in FY2021. Actual funding for FY2024
grants totaling more than $345,000 in funding.
remains unchanged from FY2021 levels at $1 million
annually for each program. For an overview of ABPP
Figure 2. FY2019-FY2023 ABPP Grants:
funding trends, see Figure 1.
Most-Awarded States
Figure 1. Appropriations for ABPP Grant Program:
FY2015-FY2024

Source: CRS. Data provided by NPS Office of Legislative Affairs,
April 2024.
Notes: Four grants awarded through the Battlefield Land Acquisition
Grant Program in FY2020 and FY2021 to organizations or entities in
Virginia subsequently received supplemental funding. Totals include
supplemental amounts.

Source: CRS, with data from annual NPS budget justifications for
Mark K. DeSantis, Analyst in Natural Resources Policy
FY2017-FY2025. Figures are from the volume two years after the
fiscal year in question (e.g., for FY2015, figures are from FY2017).
IF11329

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American Battlefield Protection Program

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