{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.cochran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=26098adf-2e31-47c7-ad9f-092b6245abf0", "VICKSBURG MILITARY PARK & CIVIL WAR BATTLEFIELDS MEASURES ADVANCE", "2014-12-05", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "MS", "Thad Cochran", "C000567", "www.cochran.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Two legislative measures sponsored by U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) to improve the protection of military battlefields are advancing toward enactment as the Congress works to complete the 113th Congress.\r\nCochran\u2019s Champion Hill, Port Gibson and Raymond Battlefield Addition Act (S.305) and the American Battlefield Protection Program Amendments Act (HR.1033/S.916) have been incorporated into the FY2015 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which was approved by the House of Representatives on Thursday.\u00a0 The Senate is expected to take up the defense policy bill next week.\u00a0 Both battlefield measures were cosponsored by U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).\r\n\u201cThe preservation of hallowed ground in the United States honors those who sacrificed their lives and creates opportunities for all of us to learn more about the historic battles that helped shape our nation,\u201d Cochran said.\u00a0 \u201cI am pleased that the Congress is acting to help us preserve additional sites in Mississippi associated with the Civil War.\u201d\r\n\u201cOur nation\u2019s historic battlefields serve as important reminders of the sacrifices made by our forefathers,\u201d Wicker said.\u00a0 \u201cI am proud to stand with Senator Cochran to help safeguard these important Civil War sites in Mississippi.\u201d\r\n\u00a0The Champion Hill, Port Gibson and Raymond Battlefield Addition Act, introduced by Cochran in February 2013, would expand the Vicksburg National Military Park by authorizing the National Park Service (NPS) to acquire approximately 10,000 acres of property deemed significant to the long-term preservation of historic Civil War battlefield sites in Claiborne and Hinds counties.\r\nThe Vicksburg battlefield measure specifies that any purchases must be acquired through voluntary sales, donations or exchanges.\u00a0 It addresses three different parcels:\u00a0 the Port Gibson Unit in Claiborne County, and the Raymond Unit and Champion Hill Unit, both in Hinds County.\u00a0 Designated \u201cmodified core battlefield\u201d sites by the NPS, these properties also encompass several historic homes, such as the Shaifer House at Port Gibson and the Coker House at Champion Hill.\u00a0 The NPS would assume maintenance and security responsibilities for these structures if they are ultimately included in the Military Park.\r\nThe American Battlefield Protection Program Amendments Act is a bipartisan measure introduced in the Senate last year by U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Cochran.\u00a0 It would reauthorize the Civil War Battlefield Preservation Program (CWBPP) at current funding levels through 2021 and continue to provide competitive federal grants to match private and non-profit donations.\u00a0 This legislation would for the first time extend the program to significant battle sites associated with the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812.\r\nSince its initiation in December 2002, the CWBPP has helped preserve at least 17,500 acres of high-priority Civil War battle sites, including more than 3,300 acres in Mississippi. In addition to preserving historic battlefield sites, the CWBPP has helped to enhance tourism, support local and state economies and increase land conservation.\r\nLINKS:  \u2022\u00a0\u00a0 Vicksburg National Military Park:\u00a0 http://www.nps.gov/vick/index.htm   \u2022\u00a0\u00a0 American Battlefield Protection Program:\u00a0 http://www.nps.gov/hps/abpp/   \u2022\u00a0\u00a0 Civil War Trust: http://www.civilwar.org/   \u2022\u00a0\u00a0 Civil War Trust \u201cLand Saved\u201d: http://www.civilwar.org/land-preservation/land-saved/   \u2022\u00a0\u00a0 Civil War Trust \u201cSave Vicksburg 2013\u201d Campaign: http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/vicksburg/vicksburg-2013/\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.cochran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=26098adf-2e31-47c7-ad9f-092b6245abf0"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9118739981204271, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}