Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument Act
Latest action (8 Jan 2019): Introduced
What this bill does
This bill would create the Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument in Kentucky as a new unit of the National Park System, to preserve and interpret the site's Civil War history. Establishment would not take effect immediately; the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the National Park Service, would first have to determine that enough land had been acquired to form a manageable park unit, then publish notice in the Federal Register. Land could only be acquired through donation, purchase from a willing seller, or exchange—not through condemnation. The boundary would follow a specified 2018 map. Once established, the Secretary would manage the monument under standard National Park System laws and would be required to prepare a general management plan within three years of funding, submitting it to the relevant House and Senate committees.
The bill primarily affects the National Park Service, landowners near the proposed monument site, and visitors or historians interested in the battlefield. It explicitly protects private property owners' land-use rights within or adjacent to the site and states that no buffer zone would be created around the monument, meaning nearby activities audible or visible from the site would not be restricted.
The bill was introduced in the Senate by Senator Mitch McConnell on January 8, 2019, and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. According to the Congressional Research Service, this bill itself was not enacted as a standalone measure; its provisions were later incorporated into other legislation that was signed into law.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument Act
This bill establishes the Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument in Kentucky as a unit of the National Park System to preserve and interpret the nationally significant historic resources of the Mill Springs Battlefield and its role in the Civil War.
Common questions
- What does S. 32 do?
- This bill would create the Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument in Kentucky as a new unit of the National Park System, to preserve and interpret the site's Civil War history. Establishment would not take effect immediately; the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the National Park Service, would first have to determine that enough land had been acquired to form a manageable park unit, then publish notice in the Federal Register. Land could only be acquired through donation, purchase from a willing seller, or exchange—not through condemnation. The boundary would follow a specified 2018 map. Once established, the Secretary would manage the monument under standard National Park System laws and would be required to prepare a general management plan within three years of funding, submitting it to the relevant House and Senate committees. The bill primarily affects the National Park Service, landowners near the proposed monument site, and visitors or historians interested in the battlefield. It explicitly protects private property owners' land-use rights within or adjacent to the site and states that no buffer zone would be created around the monument, meaning nearby activities audible or visible from the site would not be restricted. The bill was introduced in the Senate by Senator Mitch McConnell on January 8, 2019, and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. According to the Congressional Research Service, this bill itself was not enacted as a standalone measure; its provisions were later incorporated into other legislation that was signed into law.
- Has S. 32 become law?
- Not yet. As of 8 Jan 2019, S. 32 is introduced.
- Who sponsored S. 32?
- S. 32 was sponsored by Sen. Mitch McConnell [R-KY] (Republican-KY), with 0 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on S. 32?
- Introduced (8 Jan 2019).
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