[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 182 (Monday, December 7, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H13534]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                RENAMING THE OCMULGEE NATIONAL MONUMENT

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3603) to rename the Ocmulgee National Monument, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3603

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. REDESIGNATION.

       The Ocmulgee National Monument in Macon, Georgia, shall be 
     known and redesignated as the ``Ocmulgee Mounds National 
     Monument''.

     SEC. 2. REFERENCES.

       Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, 
     or other record of the United States to the Ocmulgee National 
     Monument shall be deemed to be a reference to the ``Ocmulgee 
     Mounds National Monument''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Guam (Ms. Bordallo) and the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Brown) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Guam.


                             General Leave

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Guam?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3603 is sponsored by my friend and 
colleague Representative Marshall of Georgia.
  The bill is very simple. It changes the name of the Ocmulgee National 
Monument to the Ocmulgee Mounds National Monument.
  The new name will more accurately portray the resources at the 
monument, which is located in Macon, Georgia, and which was established 
in 1934 to protect a collection of Native American mounds, including a 
large ceremonial center, that encompassed burial and residential 
mounds, a large earthen temple, and political meeting chambers.
  H.R. 3603 has wide support in the community, and those supporters 
believe the name change will help the public better understand the 
nature of the monument and encourage increased visitation.
  I urge all Members to support this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BROWN of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as 
I may consume.
  The Democrat bill manager's adequately explained this bill. We have 
no objection to its consideration.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I recognize the sponsor of the bill, the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Marshall), for as much time as he may 
consume.
  Mr. MARSHALL. I thank the gentlewoman from Guam.
  I just want to add my 2 cents here. I am the sponsor of the bill. 
Locally, in the middle of Georgia area, when we refer to the Ocmulgee 
National Monument, almost everybody says the Mounds, we are going over 
to the Mounds. That's the most significant archaeological and physical 
aspect of this particular facility.
  The facility is actually virtually in downtown Macon. It's right at 
the junction of two interstate highways. It's the most frequently 
visited monument, museum, et cetera, in middle Georgia. We believe, by 
adding the word ``mounds'' to the name, we will increase the visibility 
of the Mounds.
  This site has had continuous human habitation for over 12,000 years. 
It may be the site, the longest site of continuous human habitation in 
North America. The Mounds were added circa 600 to 900, if I recall 
correctly, A.D., but the site is of historical significance that goes 
well beyond simply the Mounds.
  We encourage the House to unanimously support this request.
  Mr. BROWN of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. Bordallo) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 3603, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. BROWN of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas 
and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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