VICKSBURG, Miss. (AP) — Legislation to authorize the expansion of the Vicksburg National Military Park has been reintroduced by U.S. Senators Thad Cochran and Roger Wicker, both R-Miss.

The legislation would authorize the National Park Service to acquire about 10,000 acres of property deemed significant to the long-term preservation of historic Civil War battlefield sites in Claiborne and Hinds counties. The bill specifies that any purchases must be acquired through voluntary sales, donations or exchanges.