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HR 7495 117th Congress House Public Lands and Natural Resources Conflicts and wars Congressional oversight District of Columbia Government studies and investigations Historic sites and heritage areas Maryland Military history Parks, recreation areas, trails U.S. history Virginia

Civil War Defenses of Washington National Historical Park Act

Introduced: April 11, 2022 Introduced by: Norton, Eleanor Holmes Democratic · District of Columbia See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 117th Congress ended
It never became law before the 117th Congress (2021–2022) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Apr 15, 2022
Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands.
Apr 11, 2022
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Apr 11, 2022
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E377)
Apr 11, 2022
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Civil War Defenses of Washington National Historical Park Act

This bill designates as the Civil War Defenses of Washington National Historical Park the defenses constructed at the beginning of the Civil War in 1861 as a ring of fortifications in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and northern Virginia to protect the nation's capital.

The park shall include all areas associated with the Civil War defenses of Washington currently owned by the federal government and under the administration of the National Park Service, including Battleground National Cemetery.

Certain eligible sites and certain additional sites associated with the Civil War defenses of Washington may become affiliated with the park pursuant to a cooperative agreement under this bill.

The Department of the Interior shall study and consider creative and cost-effective ways to facilitate how the storied history of the Civil War for both the North and the South, including the history of the defenses of Washington and the Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1864, can be assembled, arrayed, and conveyed for the benefit of the public.

What's happening now April 15, 2022

Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 7495: Civil War Defenses of Washington National Historical Park Act. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-7495/
MLA
"H.R. 7495: Civil War Defenses of Washington National Historical Park Act." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-7495/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 7495, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-7495/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 7495: Civil War Defenses of Washington National Historical Park Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-7495/)
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