The President signed into law Senate Bill 524 which authorized the expansion of Fort Donelson National Park to include Fort Heiman. Thank you Senator Bunning and Representatives Whitfield and Tanner who introduced this landmark. For details on the legislative process, click here. To review the testimony before congress and resolution passed, click here.
October 8, 2004
The U.S. Congress has approved the bill regarding Fort Heiman and it is on the way to the President for his signature. This will expand the boundaries of Fort Donelson National Park to include Fort Heiman and make it a part of the National Park system.
May 26, 2004
Senator Bunnings office just contacted me. The bill to expand Fort Donelson and include Fort Heiman has now passed the House Committee and is headed to the House Floor. Not sure if it will come to the floor as HR 646 or SB 524. All I know is it is moving forward very quickly now! A press release will go out to the media today as well as another when it finally passes.
May 19, 2004
The U.S. Senate PASSED SB 524 sponsored by Senator Bunning to allow the "Fort Donelson National Battlefield Expansion Act of 2003". This would allow the National Park Service to acquire and provide interpretation of the Fort Heiman Civil War site. Now on to the House where HR 646 has been introduced by Congressman Ed Whitfield (R-KY, 1st District) and cosigned by Congressman John Tanner (D-TN, 8th District).
February 4, 2004
The Kentucky Heritage Land Conservation Fund Board has awarded the Fort Heiman project $367,000 which are the final funds needed to purchase the remaining lots within the Fort Heiman Civil War site located in Western Kentucky. A check presentation took place February 4th 2004 in the Rotunda of the Capitol, Frankfort Kentucky at 12:30 EST. The event was well attended. Bill Martin, Kentucky Heritage Land Conservation Fund Board, presented Mr. Sandy Forrest with the check. Senator Bob Jackson and Representative Buddy Buckingham were among the many participating in the event. Our thanks to them as well as Senator Bunning and Congressman Whitfield for all the help in this project. For photos of the event, click here.
January 20, 2004
The Kentucky Heritage Land Conservation Fund Board has awarded the Fort Heiman project $262,000 which are the final funds needed to purchase the remaining lots within the Fort Heiman Civil War site located in Western Kentucky. A check presentation will take place February 4th 2004 in the Rotunda of the Capitol, Frankfort Kentucky at 12:30 EST. All are welcome to attend.
In 2003, HR 646 was introduced by Congressman Ed Whitfield (R-KY, 1st District) and cosigned by Congressman John Tanner (D-TN, 8th District) entitled "The Fort Donelson National Battlefield Expansion Act of 2003" which would allow for the National Park Service to acquire and provide interpretation of the Fort Heiman Civil War site located on the banks of the Tennessee River in Calloway County Kentucky. In September 2003, Congressman Whitfield and a representative with the Fort Heiman project testified before the commitee on behalf of the bill. Senator Bunning introduced an identical bill SB 524 and in October 2003, he and a representative from West Kentucky spoke on behalf of the bill before the Senate Committee. The National Park Service also spoke on behalf of the bill which they stated they had no opposition to being given the additional responsibility of Fort Heiman as long as funds were available to properly maintain it. Thus far, over $1 million dollars has been raised through state and federal grants and other funding sources which will allow the Calloway County Fiscal Court to purchase this historic Civil War site with the intent to give all of the property to the National Park Service once legislation is passed to allow this. A large portion of Fort Heiman was purchased in September 2003 from funds received through Transportation Enhancement Funds (federal funds awarded through the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet) and the Kentucky Heritage Land Conservation Fund Board. State Senator Bob Jackson and State Representative Buddy Buckingham have been tremendous partners on acquiring this funding.
UPDATE: 8/15/03 - On Tuesday, 8/16/03, HB 646 will be introduced by Congressman Ed Whitfield in the Resource Committee meeting. Congressman Tanner has co-signed this bill. This bill, as you recall, calls for the expansion of the boundaries of Fort Donelson to include Fort Heiman. Senator Jim Bunning will be introducing a similar bill in October.
Also, a date of September 23, 2003 has been tenatively set for the check signing ceremony to acquire nearly 300 of the acres at Fort Heiman. More details will be forthcoming.
5/9/03: Representative Ed Whitfield, Representative John Tanner and Senator Jim Bunning (see below) have introduced the House and Senate Bills that calls for increasing the park's authorized acreage from 600 to 2000. It also calls for the acquisition of the Ft. Heiman in Kentucky for inclusion in Fort Donelson National Battlefield and grants NPS interpretive and protective rights to Fort Henry.
Your support and help is needed - click below for a direct email link. Email or contact them today!
3/11/03: Below are five pieces of legislation we need to act on immediately if we hope to save FORT HEIMAN
1. Congressman Ed Whitfield (R-KY, 1st District) introduced a bill (HR 646 on Feb 6, 2003) entitled "The Fort Donelson National Battlefield Expansion Act of 2003" that seeks to expand the boundaries of the park from its current limit of 600 acres to 2,000 acres. This will allow for the acquisition of Ft. Heiman in Kentucky and grant the NPS interpretive access rights to Fort Henry which is currently on Forest Service land. It will also enable the NPS to secure parcels from willing sellers in the immediate vicinity of Donelson as the park now only encompasses about 20% of the core area of the battlefield. This measure was cosponsored by Congressman John Tanner (D-TN, 8th District.) Congressman Ed Whitfield's phone number is (202) 225 -3115 and his email is: edky01@mail.house.gov
2. Senator Bunning introduced SB 524 in the Senate on March 5, 2003. It is identical to HR 646 noted above. This bill is to expand the boundaries of the Fort Donelson National Battlefield to authorize the acquisition and interpretation of lands associated with the campaign that resulted in the capure of the fort in 1862. Senator Bunning's phone number is (202) 224-4343 and his e-mail address is jim_bunning@bunning.senate.gov.
Please let Senator Bunning, Congressman Whitfield and Congressman Tanner know how much we appreciate them introducing this legislation.
ACTION TO TAKE IMMEDIATELY:
Write your U.S. Senators (c/o U.S. Senate, Washington DC 20510) and your Member of Congress (c/o House of Representatives, Washington DC 20515), and encourage them to support "The Fort Donelson National Battlefield Expansion Act of 2002," HR 646. If at all possible, call your legislator immediately!
Note: Be sure to include "HR 646" or SB 524 in your conversation so they will know exactly which bill you are referencing.
To find out who your representative are for your state or how to contact them, click here.
To find out who your senators are for your state or how to contact them, click here.
3. Fort Heiman needs to be included on the Top 10 Most Endangered Sites immediately! Already the site has been subdivided and portions sold for residential housing development. There is even a house under construction at this time. It is crucial that we act now and save this land from becoming another subdivision.
ACTION TO TAKE IMMEDIATELY:
Please contact the Civil War Preservation Trust and request that Fort Heiman be included in the Trust’s list of top ten most endangered Civil War Battlefields.
Send letters to:
Mr. Jim Campi
Civil War Preservation Trust
1331 H Street NW, Suite 1001
Washington DC 20005
4. Representatives Gary Miller and George Radanovichintroduced a bill last session to create a fund of $10 million dollars for Civil War Preservation.
UPDATE: November 21, 2002 - Great News from Tom Fugate. The bill was passed authorizing funding for Civil War sites (HR 646). The Civil War Battlefield Preservation Act of 2002 (HR 646) authorizes $10 million a year program to preserve endangered Civil War battlefields. The bill now moves on to the President for his signature and enactment.
To find out who your representative are for your state or how to contact them, click here.
To find out who your senators are for your state or how to contact them, click here.
5. Last but not least, there is another bill HR 3853 which makes some much needed technical corrections requested by the Administration to the laws passed during the 106th Congress related to parks and public lands. These corrections have the support of the National Park Service and others. The problem is, an amendment pertaining to personal watercrafts has been added to the bill and chances are, with this addition, this bill will not go anywhere. It has been suggested that a similar bill be introduced in the Senate (minus the personal watercraft amendment). Please make your Senators aware of this and see if there is an interest.
P.S. Spread the word and get others to contact their legislators as well. Remember, time is of the essence! And time is short! The session is nearly over!
Click here for more information about the Fort Heiman project.
Click here to read other people's comments, add your own comments or copies of your letters to share with others.
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