106TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 5225
AN ACT
To revise the boundaries of the Richmond National
Battlefield Park based on the findings of the
Civil War Sites Advisory Committee and the Na-
tional Park Service and to encourage cooperative
management, protection, and interpretation of
the resources associated with the Civil War and
the Civil War battles in and around the city of
Richmond, Virginia.
106TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 5225
AN ACT
To revise the boundaries of the Richmond National Battle-
field Park based on the findings of the Civil War Sites
Advisory Committee and the National Park Service and
to encourage cooperative management, protection, and
interpretation of the resources associated with the Civil
War and the Civil War battles in and around the city
of Richmond, Virginia.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; DEFINITIONS.
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the
‘‘Richmond National Battlefield Park Act of 2000’’.
(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this Act:
(1) BATTLEFIELD
PARK.—The term ‘‘battle-
field park’’ means the Richmond National Battle-
field Park.
(2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means
the Secretary of the Interior.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds the following:
(1) In the Act of March 2, 1936 (Chapter 113;
49 Stat. 1155; 16 U.S.C. 423j), Congress authorized
the establishment of the Richmond National Battle-
field Park, and the boundaries of the battlefield park
were established to permit the inclusion of all mili-
tary battlefield areas related to the battles fought
during the Civil War in the vicinity of the city of
Richmond, Virginia. The battlefield park originally
included the area then known as the Richmond Bat-
tlefield State Park.
(2) The total acreage identified in 1936 for
consideration for inclusion in the battlefield park
consisted of approximately 225,000 acres in and
around the city of Richmond. A study undertaken by
the congressionally authorized Civil War Sites Advi-
sory Committee determined that of these 225,000
acres, the historically significant areas relating to
the campaigns against and in defense of Richmond
encompass approximately 38,000 acres.
(3) In a 1996 general management plan, the
National Park Service identified approximately
7,121 acres in and around the city of Richmond that
satisfy the National Park Service criteria of signifi-
cance, integrity, feasibility, and suitability for inclu-
sion in the battlefield park. The National Park Serv-
ice later identified an additional 186 acres for inclu-
sion in the battlefield park.
(4) There is a national interest in protecting
and preserving sites of historical significance associ-
ated with the Civil War and the city of Richmond.
(5) The Commonwealth of Virginia and its local
units of government have authority to prevent or
minimize adverse uses of these historic resources
and can play a significant role in the protection of
the historic resources related to the campaigns
against and in defense of Richmond.
(6) The preservation of the New Market
Heights Battlefield in the vicinity of the city of
Richmond is an important aspect of American his-
tory that can be interpreted to the public. The Bat-
tle of New Market Heights represents a premier
landmark in black military history as 14 black
Union soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor in
recognition of their valor during the battle. Accord-
ing to National Park Service historians, the sac-
rifices of the United States Colored Troops in this
battle helped to ensure the passage of the Thirteenth
Amendment to the United States Constitution to
abolish slavery.
(b) PURPOSE.—It is the purpose of this Act—
(1) to revise the boundaries for the Richmond
National Battlefield Park based on the findings of
the Civil War Sites Advisory Committee and the Na-
tional Park Service; and
(2) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to
work in cooperation with the Commonwealth of Vir-
ginia, the city of Richmond, other political subdivi-
sions of the Commonwealth, other public entities,
and the private sector in the management, protec-
tion, and interpretation of the resources associated