WASHINGTON - During a visit to Gettysburg National Military Park today, U.S. Secretary of the Interior David L. Bernhardt highlighted the Trump Administration’s support for protecting and enhancing our nation’s historic sites and announced $3 million in American Battlefield Protection Program (ABPP) grants. The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission was awarded more than $573,000 to acquire two tracts of land adjacent to the iconic battlefield with their non-profit partner the American Battlefield Trust.
“Battlefields such as Gettysburg are sacred sites where Americans gave the last full measure of devotion,” said Secretary Bernhardt. “These grants enable us to partner with communities and organizations to preserve these places and connect visitors with their historical importance.”
“ABPP grants create partnerships among state and local governments and nonprofit organizations to act quickly and proactively to preserve and protect nationally significant battlefields, such as Gettysburg,” said National Park Service Deputy Director David Vela, exercising the authority of the director.
Since 2017, the Trump Administration has provided $47.8 million in grants through the ABPP, helping states and local communities acquire, preserve and share the history of our nation’s battlefields. Federal oil and gas revenues from the Outer Continental Shelf provide the lion’s share of deposits into the Land Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), which is the largest source of funding for ABPP grants.
LWCF also supports tens of thousands of other state and local projects, including the protection of important water sources, expansion of access for hunting and fishing and the preservation of recreational areas. President Trump has taken a historic step in calling on Congress to permanently fund LWCF and address the multi-billion dollar deferred maintenance backlog at national parks. Permanent funding would provide long-term support for projects such as today’s battlefield protection announcement.
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