Congressman
Henry E. Brown, Jr.

As home to Ft. Sumter, Morris Island, and many other Civil War sites, the 1st District holds a special place in our nation's history that must be preserved.  That's why I have been working so hard with my colleague Gary Miller from California to update and extend a program under the National Park Service that is designed to provide financial assistance to preserve and protect these nationally significant places in our history. 

Last week, I joined with my colleagues on the National Parks Subcommittee of the House Resources Committee during a hearing on Mr. Miller's legislation (H.R. 2933).  During the hearing, we heard from one of my constituents, Alex McMillan, a Trustee of the Civil War Preservation Trust and a former Member of Congress. 

Congressman McMillan talked about the important role that funding through the Civil War Battlefield Preservation Program has played in protecting Civil War battlefields throughout the US. (link to McMillan testimony)

While funds from the CWBPP have yet to be used to preserve any land in South Carolina, there are 11 sites in the Palmetto State that would be eligible for preservation under H.R. 2933. These include sites such as Fort Sumter and Morris Island, which saw the heroic actions of the African-American 54th Massachusetts Infantry as depicted in the film Glory. 

This week, H.R. 2933 was sent to the House floor by the Natural Resources Committee.  I look forward to working with my colleagues to get this bill on the House floor schedule before the end of the 110th Congress.

Additional Information: 1-pager on legislation from the Civil War Battlefield Trust │Letter from Civil War Battlefield Trust │Article on legislation in the Charleston Post & Courier

Posted by Henry E. Brown (07-17-2008, 05:59 PM) filed under Environment and Wildlife, Tourism

 

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