[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1516 Reported in Senate (RS)]
<DOC>
Calendar No. 478
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 1516
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special
resource study of the Cahokia Mounds, Emerald Mounds, and Pulcher
Mounds in the State of Illinois, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 29, 2025
Mr. Durbin (for himself and Ms. Duckworth) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and
Natural Resources
July 23, 2026
Reported by Mr. Lee, with an amendment
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special
resource study of the Cahokia Mounds, Emerald Mounds, and Pulcher
Mounds in the State of Illinois, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>
<DELETED> This Act may be cited as the ``Cahokia Mounds
Mississippian Culture Study Act''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 2. FINDINGS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Congress finds that--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) the city of Cahokia--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) was inhabited from approximately A.D.
700 to 1400; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) at its peak from A.D. 1050 to 1200--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) covered nearly 6 square miles;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) was home to 10,000 to 20,000
people;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) more than 120 mounds were built over time at
the site of the city of Cahokia;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) the site of the city of Cahokia is named for
the Cahokia subtribe of the Illinois Confederation, who moved
into the area in the 1600s;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) the city of Cahokia was the central hub and
largest city of the Mississippian culture that ruled and traded
across half of North America, more than 1,250,000 square
miles;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) the city of Cahokia--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) was the first known organized
urbanization and government north of Mexico;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) at its peak, was larger than most
European cities, including London;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (6) some of the Cahokia Mounds, which were built
from A.D. 900 to 1400, still stand as earthen monuments and
remnants of Mississippian culture, which is the greatest
prehistoric ancient culture in North America, the people of
which are ancestors to many of today's First People and
Nations; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (7) the Cahokia Mounds are designated as--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) a National Historic
Landmark;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) an Illinois State Historic Site;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) a United Nations Educational,
Scientific, and Cultural Organization World Heritage
Site.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> In this Act:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the
Secretary of the Interior.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Study area.--The term ``Study Area'' means--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) the Cahokia Mounds State Historic
Site;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) the Emerald Mounds in St. Clair
County, Illinois; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) the Pulcher Mounds in Monroe and St.
Clair Counties, Illinois.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 4. SPECIAL RESOURCE STUDY.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Study.--The Secretary shall conduct a special resource
study of the Study Area.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Contents.--In conducting the study under subsection
(a), the Secretary shall--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) evaluate the national significance of the
Study Area;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) determine the suitability and feasibility of
designating the Study Area as a unit of the National Park
System;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) consider other alternatives for preservation,
protection, and interpretation of the Study Area by--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) Federal, State, or local governmental
entities; or</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) private and nonprofit
organizations;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) consult with--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) interested entities of the Federal
Government or State or local governmental
entities;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) private and nonprofit organizations;
or</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) any other interested individuals;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) identify cost estimates for any Federal
acquisition, development, interpretation, operation, and
maintenance associated with the alternatives considered under
paragraph (3).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Applicable Law.--The study required under subsection
(a) shall be conducted in accordance with section 100507 of title 54,
United States Code.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (d) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date on
which funds are first made available to conduct the study required
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on
Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural
Resources of the House of Representatives a report containing--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) the results of the study; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) any conclusions and recommendations of the
Secretary.</DELETED>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Cahokia Mounds Mississippian Culture
Study Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian Tribe'' has the
meaning given the term ``Indian tribe'' in section 102 of the
Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C.
5130).
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
(3) Study area.--The term ``Study Area'' means--
(A) the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site;
(B) the Emerald Mounds in St. Clair County,
Illinois; and
(C) the Pulcher Mounds in Monroe and St. Clair
Counties, Illinois.
SEC. 3. SPECIAL RESOURCE STUDY.
(a) Study.--The Secretary shall conduct a special resource study of
the Study Area.
(b) Contents.--In conducting the study under subsection (a), the
Secretary shall--
(1) evaluate the national significance of the Study Area;
(2) determine the suitability and feasibility of
designating the Study Area as a unit of the National Park
System;
(3) consider other alternatives for preservation,
protection, and interpretation of the Study Area by--
(A) Federal, State, or local governmental entities;
or
(B) private and nonprofit organizations;
(4) consult with--
(A) interested entities of the Federal Government
or State or local governmental entities;
(B) applicable Indian Tribes;
(C) private and nonprofit organizations; or
(D) any other interested individuals; and
(5) identify cost estimates for any Federal acquisition,
development, interpretation, operation, and maintenance
associated with the alternatives considered under paragraph
(3).
(c) Applicable Law.--The study required under subsection (a) shall
be conducted in accordance with section 100507 of title 54, United
States Code.
(d) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date on which funds
are first made available to conduct the study required under subsection
(a), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the
House of Representatives a report containing--
(1) the results of the study; and
(2) any conclusions and recommendations of the Secretary.
Calendar No. 478
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 1516
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special
resource study of the Cahokia Mounds, Emerald Mounds, and Pulcher
Mounds in the State of Illinois, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
July 23, 2026
Reported with an amendment