A provision introduced by Sens. Thad Cochran and Roger Wicker in the Defense Authorization Bill could extend the Vicksburg National Military Park’s reach to include the Raymond, Champion Hill and Grand Gulf Civil War battlefield sites.

The bill passed the House last week and includes money for the VNMP to expand its scope to include the three areas, which totals 10,000 acres in Claiborne and Hinds counties that were major battle sites during Gen. Ulysses Grant’s march to capture Vicksburg.

Cochran said the National Park Service designates such areas as “modified core battlefield” sites.

The land includes several historic homes, such as the Shaifer House at Port Gibson and the Coker House at Champion Hill, which the Park Service would maintain if added to the park.

The Senate was expected to vote on the bill today.

“This is something we’ve been working on for two years,” said Bess Averett, executive director of Friends of the Vicksburg National Military Park and Campaign. “We’re glad that it has received bipartisan support, and we’re going to be waiting to see what happens.

“Of course, this is hallowed ground, but it can mean a huge economic impact for our area if we’re able to keep it preserved.”

“It will expand the tourism area of the National (Military) Park,” Vicksburg Mayor George Flaggs Jr., said. “And it will require people to at least stay a day or two to see all of it.”

He said the expansion is part of a plan to get state and federal funding to increase tourism in the Vicksburg area “by 600,000 people a year,” adding the city is also seeking money for the continued operation of the Jesse Brent Lower Mississippi River Museum and Interpretive Center, which is owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and currently staffed by volunteers. The city in November hired a part-time worker to handle maintenance at the center.

Flaggs said the city will seek $500,000 in state funds for the Monte Carlo Building, which is owned by Vicksburg residents James and Linda Fondren, who plan to have a cultural and interpretive center at the building, and $400,000 from the state for a feasibility study for an updated cultural tourism program with the goal of increasing visitors to the Vicksburg National Military Park.

“It’s a whole new market for tourism in Vicksburg, and it looks like the (overall) plan has been accepted by federal state and local government,” Flaggs said.