WASHINGTON, DC -- Designating Mill Springs Battlefield as a National Monument remains a priority for both U.S. Rep. Harold "Hal" Rogers (KY-05) and U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) as the 116th Congress gets underway. On Friday, Congressman Rogers filed the Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument Act, H.R. 240, designating the historic Civil War battlefield a national monument and part of the National Park System (NPS). This week, Sen. McConnell's companion legislation will be filed in the Senate, adding strength to the joint initiative to preserve the hallowed ground spanning Wayne and Pulaski counties. 

"The local Mill Springs Battlefield Association (MSBA) has diligently worked to protect this national treasure in southern Kentucky and this designation would be an incredible testament to the association's tireless efforts to secure more than 900 acres of the battlefield for future generations," said Congressman Rogers. "Senator McConnell and I have proudly worked together alongside the MSBA to preserve the battlefield for many years and we are eager to see it become part of the National Park System."

“I look forward to continuing our efforts to preserve the history of Mill Springs Battlefield in the new Congress,” said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. “With Congressman Rogers’ leadership in the House, we are working to designate Mill Springs as a National Monument and enshrine this Civil War battlefield among our country’s most treasured lands. The Union Army’s first significant victory in the West is an important part of the history of Pulaski and Wayne counties, and we will continue to work with our colleagues in Congress and the Trump administration to promote the public education, tourism, and remembrance of this historically significant site for years to come.”

Congressman Rogers and Senator McConnell introduced similar legislation last Congress, which was passed by the House and the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. They hope to build upon the project's recent momentum. 

The MSBA plans to donate 900 acres of the battlefield and the on-site $1.7 million, 10,000-square foot visitor center and museum to the NPS. The designation would provide much-needed resources to adequately preserve and maintain the site.