{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.wicker.senate.gov/2026/09/22/wicker-hyde-smith-applaud-senate-passage-of-vicksburg-national-military-park-bill/", "Wicker, Hyde-Smith Applaud Senate Passage of Vicksburg National Military Park Bill", "2026-09-22", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "MS", "Roger F. Wicker", "W000437", "www.wicker.senate.gov", "wicker", "https://www.wicker.senate.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "Legislation Marches on to the President\u2019s Desk\n\nWashington \u2013 U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., today celebrated the Senate\u2019s unanimous approval of the Vicksburg National Military Park Boundary Modification Act. This legislation would permit the State of Mississippi to build a new informational visitor center and make necessary structural improvements around the park. The bill now heads to President Trump\u2019s desk.\n\n\u201cEvery generation has a solemn responsibility to preserve our nation\u2019s history for the ones that follow,\u201d said Senator Wicker. \u201cThe Senate is helping fulfill that duty, unanimously approving our legislation to enhance the experience of visiting Vicksburg National Military Park. This legislation will support Mississippi\u2019s efforts to keep the story of Vicksburg alive and accessible for students, families, and visitors.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis is a monumental step for Vicksburg National Military Park and the State of Mississippi. The land transfer facilitated by this legislation gives the state the ability to tell the complete story of the Siege of Vicksburg for generations to come,\u201d Senator Hyde-Smith said. \u201cI look forward to seeing these improvements to enhance one of Mississippi\u2019s most visited and treasured parks.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis was a great example of Mississippi\u2019s team approach,\u201d said Barry White, Director of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. \u201cSenator Wicker, Senator Hyde-Smith, and Congressman Thompson all played vital roles in advancing this legislation. This transfer from the federal government to the state is just one more step toward the public/private partnership that will elevate the Vicksburg Civil War Visitors Center.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Vicksburg National Military Park is a critical driver of our local economy but we know that impact could be so much more,\u201d said Bess Averett, Executive Director of the Friends of the Vicksburg National Military Park and Campaign. \u201cOur plans for a new Vicksburg Civil War Visitors Center will tell the full story of this pivotal part of our nation\u2019s history. We are so thankful to our whole Congressional delegation for securing this land transfer bill and allowing us to move forward with our plans.\u201d\n\nBackground on the Vicksburg National Military Park Boundary Modification Act:\n\nThe Siege of Vicksburg represents a marquee moment in Mississippi history and a turning point in the Civil War. To commemorate this event, Congress established a national park in 1899. Since 1933, the National Park Service has overseen and managed this landmark.\n\nThis legislation slightly alters the boundaries of Vicksburg National Military Park, transferring a small piece of the land to the State of Mississippi\u2019s jurisdiction. The state has committed $40 million to fund an interactive educational and visitor center in conjunction with Friends of Vicksburg Military Park. In addition, the state plans to build and maintain a connector road to make the new center accessible for park visitors.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-24T09:44:48Z", "2026-09-24T09:45:52Z"]], "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.wicker.senate.gov/2026/09/22/wicker-hyde-smith-applaud-senate-passage-of-vicksburg-national-military-park-bill/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.6303060110658407, "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"}