Today, the Subcommittee on Federal Lands held a legislative hearing on five bills focused on commemorating and celebrating American history on our federal lands. Subcommittee Chairman Tom Tiffany (R-Wis.) issued the following statement in response:

“Our National Park System helps us learn about, and from, the influential events in our nation’s history, and Natural Resources Committee Republicans are committed to ensuring Americans can enjoy, celebrate, and reflect on these treasured sites, especially those that honor our heroic veterans, for years to come.”

Background

Today's hearing focused on bipartisan bills that will use federal lands to honor, remember and celebrate some of the greatest American heroes and achievements and ensure our national security for years to come.  

H.R. 386 would prevent federal funds from being used to alter, change, destroy or remove, in whole or in part, any name, face or other feature on the Mount Rushmore National Memorial.

H.R. 1318 would authorize the location of a monument on the National Mall to commemorate and honor the women’s suffrage movement and the passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution.

H.R. 2717 would authorize the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation to establish a commemorative work on the National Mall to honor the extraordinary acts of valor, selfless service, and sacrifice displayed by Medal of Honor recipients.

H.R. 3448 would enhance the protection of America’s battlefields by making several improvements to the American Battlefield Protection Program, such as the inclusion of educational institutions and nonprofit organizations to receive grants directly and adding tribes as eligible entities for these grants. 

H.R. 4377 would extend the land withdrawal for the Barry M. Goldwater Range and add public lands to the base. The withdrawal of land provides additional security of flight operations.