119th (2025–2027)
S. 5169
This bill expands the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District to include additional counties in Virginia (Rockbridge County) and West Virginia (Berkeley, Jefferson, and Morgan Counties), extending the district's reach beyond Virginia alone. The legislation preserves the district's existing partnership management model rather than placing it under the standard National Heritage Area System rules, allowing it to operate with greater flexibility. The bill authorizes $1.25 million annually starting in fiscal year 2027 for the management entity's operations and maintenance of battlefield parks and visitor facilities, plus an additional $2.5 million per year through 2033 for grants, technical assistance, and land acquisition from willing sellers. The Secretary of the Interior is required to submit a report within two years recommending how this partnership model could be replicated at other National Park System locations. Overall, the legislation enhances the district's geographic scope and funding while maintaining its collaborative, non-federal management approach.