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Washington
–
As
longtime
residents
of
South
Carolina,
U.S.
Senator
Tim
Scott
(R-SC)
and
Rep.
Mark
Sanford
(R-SC
1st
District)
place
a
special
emphasis
on
protecting
the
historic
areas
that
are
a
part
of
the
state’s
unique
character.
That
is
why
today
both
members
introduced
the
Fort
Sumter
and
Fort
Moultrie
National
Park
Act
of
2017,
which
will
provide
oversight
and
protection
to
some
of
South
Carolina’s
most
significant
sites.
Scott
and
Sanford
introduced
this
legislation
on
Carolina
Day,
a
day
marking
the
241st
Anniversary
of
the
Battle
of
Sullivan’s
Island,
which
was
fought
at
Fort
Moultrie
and
considered
a
key
Patriot
victory
during
the
Revolutionary
War.
“Our
state’s
history
extends
well
beyond
our
borders,
and
runs
deep
through
the
very
soul
of
the
American
story,”
said
Scott.
“It
is
so
important
that
we
preserve
these
special
places,
so
they
can
be
enjoyed
and
appreciated
for
generations
to
come.”
“These
two
sites
are
profoundly
important
to
our
nation
and
represent
an
essential
part
of
South
Carolina’s
role
in
securing
the
personal
freedoms
we
all
enjoy
today,”
said
Sanford.
“Establishing
the
Fort
Sumter
and
Fort
Moultrie
National
Park
will
honor
those
who
lived,
worked,
and
died
there
as
well
as
help
to
preserve
these
sites
that
remain
such
an
important
part
of
our
history.”
The
bill,
which
has
already
received
support
from
the
Charleston
Metro
Chamber
of
Commerce
and
the
Fort
Sumter-Fort
Moultrie
Historical
Trust,
establishes
a
clear
management
plan
for
the
preservation
and
maintenance
of
the
site,
and
also
has
the
potential
to
enhance
local
economic
opportunities
and
growth
for
the
surrounding
area
by
increased
tourism
and
visitation.
Specific
details
of
the
bill
include:
- Establishes
Fort
Sumter
and
Fort
Moultrie
National
Park
- Codifies
clear
and
defining
boundaries
of
federally
managed
land
at
Fort
Sumter
- Provides
the
National
Park
Service
with
a
clear
management
plan
for
future
park,
maintenance,
and
development
- Recognizes
the
importance
of
Fort
Sumter,
Fort
Moultrie,
and
the
Sullivan’s
Island
Life
Saving
Station
Historic
District
in
American
history
and
the
role
they
played
in
protecting
the
Charleston
Harbor
during
the
Revolutionary
War,
the
Civil
War,
and
the
development
of
the
United
States
coastal
defense
system
from
1776
to
1947
- Commemorates
the
lives
of
the
free
and
enslaved
workers
who
built
Fort
Sumter
and
Fort
Moultrie,
the
soldiers
who
defended
the
forts,
the
prisoners
held
there,
and
the
captive
Africans
brought
to
America
as
slaves
- Bolsters
the
tourism
potential
of
the
community
by
increasing
the
visibility,
prestige,
and
notoriety
of
the
sites
by
upgrading
the
federal
designation
to
national
park
Each
year,
Fort
Sumter
National
Monument
and
Fort
Moultrie
attract
nearly
a
million
visitors
to
see
where
the
first
shots
of
the
Civil
War
were
fired
on
April
12,
1861.
Fort
Sumter
has
been
recognized
as
a
national
monument
since
1948,
and
since
1960,
Fort
Moultrie
has
been
administered
by
the
National
Parks
Service
as
part
of
Fort
Sumter
without
a
clear
management
mandate
or
established
boundary.
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