Washington, D.C. (WVDN) – Congressman Riley M. Moore joined Senator Jim Justice (R-WV) and Keven Walker, CEO of the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation, today for the “Stand Up for West Virginia’s Battlefields” event to highlight the Shenandoah Valley Access, Legacy and Outdoor Recreation (VALOR) Act and its potential to strengthen historic preservation, expand tourism, and drive economic growth in West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle.
“West Virginia’s history is inseparable from the Civil War, and we have a responsibility to preserve the battlefields where so many gave their lives to help shape our state and our nation. I’m proud to join Senator Justice in championing the Shenandoah VALOR Act to help protect these historic sites while creating new opportunities for tourism, supporting local businesses, and strengthening our economy in the Eastern Panhandle. We can preserve our heritage while continuing to grow our communities, and I’m proud to work alongside Senator Justice and the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation to make that vision a reality,” said Congressman Riley M. Moore.
“West Virginia’s history is American history, and we ought to be doing everything in our power to preserve it. The brave men who fought and sacrificed so much during the Civil War deserve to be remembered, and we have a responsibility to make sure future generations understand what happened right here in our state. This bill is about protecting that legacy while bringing more visitors to the Eastern Panhandle, creating jobs, and putting more dollars into our local communities. I’m proud to be working with Congressman Riley Moore and the Shenandoah National Battlefield Foundation to get this over the line,” said Senator Jim Justice.
“At the core of all we do is the belief that our shared history can unite the people of our nation; that there is strength and inspiration for our own times to be found in the struggles of the past. Preservation is more about the future than the past, and ensuring the preservation of West Virginia’s Battlefields are a part of that clear vision,” said Keven Walker, Chief Executive Officer of the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation.
The Shenandoah VALOR Act would expand the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District to include Jefferson, Berkeley, and Morgan counties in West Virginia, as well as Rockbridge County in Virginia. The legislation would extend a proven model for battlefield preservation and heritage tourism to communities that have historically missed out on preservation funding and tourism opportunities.
Since the National Historic District was established in 1996, the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation has preserved more than 8,000 acres across 11 Virginia battlefields and developed visitor centers, museum exhibits, and public trails. A 2017 National Park Service study found that the district attracts more than two million visitors annually, generates approximately $293 million in economic impact, supports nearly 4,000 jobs, and produces more than $20 million in tax revenue.
The legislation would bring similar opportunities to West Virginia while protecting private property rights. Preservation would rely on willing sellers, prohibit the use of eminent domain, and require federal preservation funding to be matched dollar-for-dollar by private donations or state and local government partnerships.
The Shenandoah VALOR Act has earned bipartisan support from West Virginia’s and Virginia’s congressional delegations, as well as the Jefferson, Berkeley, and Morgan County commissions.
Please direct all media inquiries to Lauren Ridinger (Lauren.Ridinger@mail.house.
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