Congressional Record, Volume 162 Issue 45 (Tuesday, March 22, 2016)

[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 45 (Tuesday, March 22, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H1518-H1522]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

{time} 1330
OCMULGEE MOUNDS NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK BOUNDARY REVISION ACT OF 2016

Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 482) to redesignate Ocmulgee National Monument in the State
of Georgia and revise its boundary, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:

H.R. 482

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Ocmulgee Mounds National
Historical Park Boundary Revision Act of 2016''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:
(1) Map.--The term ``map'' means the map entitled
``Ocmulgee National Monument Proposed Boundary Adjustment,
numbered 363/125996'', and dated January 2016.
(2) Historical park.--The term ``Historical Park'' means
the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park in the State of
Georgia, as redesignated in section 3.
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.

SEC. 3. OCMULGEE MOUNDS NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK.

(a) Redesignation.--Ocmulgee National Monument, established
pursuant to the Act of June 14, 1934 (48 Stat. 958), shall be
known and designated as ``Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical
Park''.
(b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation,
document, paper, or other record of the United States to
``Ocmulgee National Monument'', other than in this Act, shall
be deemed to be a reference to ``Ocmulgee Mounds National
Historical Park''.

SEC. 4. BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT.

(a) In General.--The boundary of the Historical Park is
revised to include approximately 2,100 acres, as generally
depicted on the map.
(b) Availability of Map.--The map shall be on file and
available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of
the National Park Service, the Department of the Interior.

SEC. 5. LAND ACQUISITION; NO BUFFER ZONES.

(a) Land Acquisition.--The Secretary is authorized to
acquire land and interests in land within the boundaries of
the Historical Park by donation or exchange only (and in the
case of an exchange, no payment may be made by the Secretary
to any landowner). The Secretary may not acquire by
condemnation any land or interest in land within the
boundaries of the Historical Park. No private property or
non-

[[Page H1519]]

Federal public property shall be included within the
boundaries of the Historical Park without the written consent
of the owner of such property.
(b) No Buffer Zones.--Nothing in this Act, the
establishment of the Historical Park, or the management of
the Historical Park shall be construed to create buffer zones
outside of the Historical Park. That an activity or use can
be seen or heard from within the Historical Park shall not
preclude the conduct of that activity or use outside the
Historical Park.

SEC. 6. ADMINISTRATION.

The Secretary shall administer any land acquired under
section 5 as part of the Historical Park in accordance with
applicable laws and regulations.

SEC. 7. OCMULGEE RIVER CORRIDOR SPECIAL RESOURCE STUDY.

(a) In General.--The Secretary shall conduct a special
resource study of the Ocmulgee River corridor between the
cities of Macon, Georgia, and Hawkinsville, Georgia, to
determine--
(1) the national significance of the study area;
(2) the suitability and feasibility of adding lands in the
study area to the National Park System; and
(3) the methods and means for the protection and
interpretation of the study area by the National Park
Service, other Federal, State, local government entities,
affiliated federally recognized Indian tribes, or private or
nonprofit organizations.
(b) Criteria.--The Secretary shall conduct the study
authorized by this Act in accordance with section 100507 of
title 54, United States Code.
(c) Results of Study.--Not later than 3 years after the
date on which funds are made available to carry out this
section, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on
Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate--
(1) the results of the study; and
(2) any findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the
Secretary.

The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Stewart). Pursuant to the rule, the
gentleman from California (Mr. McClintock) and the gentlewoman from
Massachusetts (Ms. Tsongas) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.

General Leave

Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 482, introduced by Representative Sanford Bishop of
Georgia, would redesignate the Ocmulgee National Monument in Georgia as
the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park and adjust the boundary of
the historical park to include approximately 2,100 new acres.
Additionally, the bill directs the Department of the Interior to
conduct a special resource study to determine the feasibility of adding
the Ocmulgee River corridor to the National Park Service. The study
will also examine the national significance of the site, as well as the
best methods and means for ensuring protection and interpretation of
this area.
This bill passed out of the committee by unanimous consent, and I
urge my colleagues to vote in favor of its passage today.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. TSONGAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time he may consume to the
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Bishop).
Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 482, the Ocmulgee
Mounds National Historical Park Boundary Revision Act of 2016.
First, I want to thank the coauthor of this legislation, my friend
and colleague, Representative Austin Scott. He has been a tireless
advocate on behalf of this legislation, and we would not be where we
are today without his help, advice, and collaboration.
I would also like to thank Chairman Rob Bishop and Ranking Member
Grijalva of the full House Natural Resources Committee for their work
in bringing this bill to the House floor this afternoon.
Chairman Tom McClintock and Ranking Member Niki Tsongas of the
Federal Lands Subcommittee have been extremely helpful, and I want to
commend them and their staffs, especially Terry Camp and Brandon
Bragato, for their efforts.
Mr. Speaker, there are few, if any, historic sites in the United
States that have evidence of continuous human habitation from so long
ago, when the first nomadic people came to North America to hunt Ice
Age mammals and began to settle the Macon Plateau.
It is what makes the Ocmulgee National Monument so unique. On its 702
acres, one can find archeological evidence from these first nomads, the
mound builders of the Mississippian Period, British traders of the late
17th century, and the Civil War.
Our bipartisan legislation consists of three parts. First, it will
expand the boundaries from approximately 702 acres to over 2,800 acres,
providing protection to additional archeological resources, linking two
noncontiguous areas, and improving the site's connection to the city of
Macon-Bibb, Georgia.
Most of the land will be donated from nonprofit associations and
government agencies. Property would also be acquired only from willing
donors or sellers, subject to the availability of funding.
Second, the bill will change the name from Ocmulgee National Monument
to Ocmulgee Mounds National Historic Park, which would increase name
recognition and draw additional visitors from across the country.
Finally, H.R. 482 would authorize a resources study to explore the
possibility of expanding the park even further and include additional
opportunities for hunting, camping, fishing, and other recreational
activities.
The legislation enjoys widespread local support, including Macon-Bibb
Mayor Robert Reichert, the Macon-Bibb Chamber of Commerce, the Macon-
Bibb Business Bureau, the Macon-Bibb Commission, the Macon-Bibb
Economic Development Commission, the Ocmulgee National Park and
Preserve Association, and the Inter-Tribal Council of the Five
Civilized Tribes: Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee (Creek), and
Seminole.
Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record letters in support of this
legislation.

Office of the Mayor,

Macon-Bibb County, June 12, 2015.
Re HR-482 Ocmulgee Mounds National Historic Park Boundary
Revision Act of 2015.

Hon. Tom McClintock,
Chairman, Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental,
House Committee of Natural Resources, Washington, DC.
Hon. Niki Tsongas,
Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Public Lands and
Environmental, House Committee of Natural Resources,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman McClintock and Ms. Tsongas: Please accept
this letter as an enthusiastic endorsement of HR-482!
Ocmulgee National Monument became a part of the National Park
Service in the 1930's after an archeological excavation
revealed evidence of continual human habitation since the
last ice age, 12-14,000 years ago. In addition, Native
Americans built an earthen floor council chamber which is now
1,000 years old and is one of the best surviving examples of
their culture.
On behalf of the 155,000 people living in Macon-Bibb County
and the 122,799 people from 48 states and 41 countries
covering six continents that visited the Ocmulgee National
Monument last year, I am writing to urge you to support HR-
482 when it comes before your subcommittee on June 16. Its
passage would:
Expand the park boundary to more than 2,000 acres from its
current 700 acres; and include additional artifacts and sites
which deserve federal protection; (There is no federal
funding for land acquisition; this bill merely authorizes
inclusion of additional property that may be voluntarily
contributed or acquired with private funds into the boundary
of the Park.)
Change the name from Ocmulgee National Monument to
``Ocmulgee Mounds National Historic Park'' to better describe
the site;
Authorize a resource study (again to be privately funded)
to determine if the Park could be incorporated, along with
other properties, into a Natural Preserve along the Ocmulgee
River to provide hunting and fishing opportunities and
promote environmental education, health and wellness, and
public enjoyment.
The expansion and reclassification of the National Monument
went through a very highly-publicized community input
process, and it was overwhelmingly supported by thousands of
people from our community, our region, and our state. We know
the people of Georgia are excited and anxious to take this
step and have this treasure in their backyard, both for their
own enjoyment and for the enjoyment of their families,
friends and visitors.
The expansion of the Ocmulgee National Monument would be a
very positive development for our entire region, and it is
one of several initiatives Macon-Bibb County is undertaking
to provide additional green space

[[Page H1520]]

and passive recreational opportunities within our community.
This effort is so important to us. It is one of our top
projects detailed in our new government's first Strategic
Plan,
HR-482 will be a significant part of, not only preserving
and protecting our heritage, but also, developing miles of
trail, greenspace, and a park along our Ocmulgee River. Your
support of this legislation will dramatically improve Middle
Georgia, and I hope it will receive your favorable
consideration,
Thank you.
Yours truly,
Robert A. B. Reichert,
Mayor.
____

Ocmulgee National

Park & Preserve Initiative,

Macon, GA, June 12, 2015.
Please support HR 482: The Ocmulgee Mounds National
Historical Park Boundary Revision Act of 2015.

Dear Members of the House Subcommittee on Federal Lands:
The Ocmulgee National Park & Preserve Initiative (ONPPI) is a
community-based group of Middle Georgia citizens working
together to further protect the current Ocmulgee National
Monument and eventually expand the current site into the
first National Park and Preserve east of the Mississippi
River. I am writing on behalf of myself and our 190 members
to urge your support of HR 482: The Ocmulgee Mounds National
Historical Park Boundary Revision Act of 2015, when it comes
before the subcommittee on Tuesday, June 16th.
HR 482 would: 1) expand the current park boundary from
approximately 700 acres to over 2,000 acres; 2) change the
name from ``Ocmulgee National Monument'' to ``Ocmulgee Mounds
National Historical Park''; and 3) authorize a resource study
to determine if the park should be expanded further to
consolidate existing public lands, protect hunting, and
fishing, and provide additional opportunities for education,
recreation and public enjoyment.
The Ocmulgee National Monument was authorized by Congress
in 1934 to protect a unique Native American cultural
landscape that the National Trust for Historic Preservation
has declared as ranking among the nation's richest
archaeological areas. Unfortunately, when the park was
created during the Great Depression, only a fraction of the
area could be preserved and many significant resources were
left unprotected. The current bill seeks to fulfill the
original intent of Congress by preserving a larger portion of
the area.
This legislation has already received the endorsement of
over 15 local governments, chambers of commerce, and other
civic organizations in Georgia as they all recognize the
potential economic impact for their community and the state.
In addition, resolutions of support have been passed by
Oklahoma's Muscogee Creek Nation, as well as the Inter-Tribal
Council of the Five Civilized Tribes (Cherokee, Chickasaw,
Choctaw, Muscogee (Creek), and Seminole Nations),
representing more than 500,000 Indian people across the
United States.
As you may know, Georgia's National Park units are major
drivers of the state's recreation and tourism economy. In
2013, they attracted nearly 7.5 million visitors and
generated over $375 million in visitor spending. The National
Parks receive just 1/15th of 1-percent of the federal budget,
or around $3 billion annually, yet the parks generate over
$30 billion in economic activity related to travel, tourism,
and outdoor recreation, drawing visitors from around the
globe to local gateway communities.
HR 482 will honor the ancestral story of the Muscogee Creek
and other southeastern Native peoples, will promote tourism
and boost economic growth, and will provide new opportunities
for education and public enjoyment. For these reasons, we
urge you to co-sponsor and support passage of this bill.
Thank you for your kind consideration of this request.
Sincerely,

Brian P. Adams,

President, Board of Directors,
Ocmulgee National Park & Preserve Initiative.
____

September 1, 2015.
Hon. Tom McClintock,
Chairman, Subcommittee on Federal Lands, House Committee on
Natural Resources, House of Representatives, Washington,
DC.
Hon. Niki Tsongas,
Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Federal Lands, House
Committee on Natural Resources, House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman McClintock and Ranking Member Tsongas: I
write in support of H.R. 482, the Ocmulgee Mounds National
Historical Park Boundary Revision Act of 2015, This important
piece of legislation would, if enacted: 1) rename and give
National Historical Park status to the Ocmulgee National
Monument; 2) considerably expand the park's boundaries; and
3) commission a special resource study of the Ocmulgee
corridor that focuses on how best to protect and develop this
area of land in the future, and in such a way as to allow for
expanded recreational activities such as hunting and fishing.
Because of its rich archeological significance--which
chronicles the history of man and womankind from the last Ice
Age, through the Mound Builder period, and onwards to today--
this land should be preserved so that future generations can
learn from, and enjoy, its cultural treasures. And for many
southeastern Native peoples, including the Muscogee (Creek),
who were forcibly removed from these lands and relocated to
the West, this land is of inestimable value. In fact, in
October of 2014, the Inter-Tribal Council of the Five
Civilized Tribes (Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee
(Creek), and Seminole Nations), representing over 500,000
Indian people throughout the United States, voiced its
support of the measures in this Act.
Accordingly, I urge you to help ensure that this
legislation is enacted. Thank you for your time and
consideration.
Sincerely,
Mary Fallin,
Governor of the State of Oklahoma.
____

State of Georgia,

Office of the Governor,

Atlanta 30334-0900, August 26. 2015.
Hon. Tom McClintock,
Chairman, Subcommittee on Federal Lands, House Committee on
Natural Resources, House of Representatives, Washington,
DC.
Hon. Niki Tsongas,
Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Federal Lands, House
Committee on Natural Resources, House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman McClintock and Ranking Member Tsongas: I am
writing at the request of Congressman Austin Scott and
Congressman Sanford Bishop, in my capacity as Governor of
Georgia, to express my support for H.R. 482, the ``Ocmulgee
Mounds National Historical Park Boundary Revision Act of
2015'' and to request your careful consideration and approval
of this legislation.
The Ocmulgee National Monument, authorized by Congress in
1934 and created by land donations in 1936, preserves the
unique Native American history of the southeast, documenting
17,000 years of human presence in the region, from the last
Ice Age, up through the era of the Mississippian mound
builders, and on into the periods of Spanish exploration,
English colonization, and the early American frontier. In
addition to this incredible history, Georgia's national park
units are important drivers of a State recreation and tourism
economy that is valued at roughly $24 billion annually.
The bipartisan bill now before Congress will achieve
numerous goals supported by the State, including the
following.
Enhanced historical preservation for exceptional cultural
resources in a place described by the National Trust for
Historic Preservation as ranking among the nation's richest
archaeological areas, thereby honoring the ancestral story of
the Muscogee Creek and other southeastern Native peoples.
Re-designation of the unit as a National Historical Park,
increasing the park's name recognition and the region's
standing as a national and international travel destination,
and enriching recreational amenities and the quality of life
for Georgia residents and military personnel stationed at
nearby Robins Air Force Base; all in keeping with actions
outlined in Georgia's Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor
Recreation Plan (SCORP).
Augmented protection within an extended area of important
wildlife habitat and natural resources that has been
identified as one of the highest priority landscapes for
conservation under Georgia's State Wildlife Action Plan
(SWAP).
Authorization of a special resource study of the Ocmulgee
River corridor between the cities of Macon and Hawkinsville
that will, among other things, provide a mechanism for
examining options to safeguard public hunting areas and
hunting as an important recreational activity, as well as
ways that conservation of public hunting lands might
contribute toward enhancing base-compatible land use along
the eastern boundary of Robins Air Force Base, ensuring its
continued viability as a regional military and economic hub;
all in conformity with resolutions passed by both chambers of
the Georgia General Assembly in 2004 (Georgia HR 1256 & SR
755), urging ``. . . the Congress of the United States to
consider creating a national preserve . . . to protect land
and other natural resources and promote hunting and fishing .
. . in a continuous corridor of the Ocmulgee and Altamaha
Rivers . . .''
Responsiveness to resolutions and letters in support of
H.R. 482 submitted by the following entities:
the City of Macon--Bibb County Commission & Mayor,
the City of Centerville Council & Mayor,
the City of Perry Council & Mayor,
the City of Hawkinsville Commission,
the City of Warner Robins Council & Mayor,
the Wilkinson County Board of Commissioners,
the City of Jeffersonville & Twiggs County Development
Authority,
the Middle Georgia Regional Commission,
the Peach County Development Authority;
the Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce,
the City of Hawkinsville--Pulaski County Chamber of
Commerce,
the Georgia Small Business Lender Board of Directors,
the Houston County Development Authority,
the Historic Macon Foundation,
the City of Macon--Bibb County Urban Development Authority,
the Southeast Tourism Society,
the Macon-Bibb County Convention & Visitors Bureau,

[[Page H1521]]

the Macon Economic Development Commission, and
NewTown Macon;
as well as resolutions passed by the following tribal
governmental organizations in Oklahoma representing over
500,000 Indian people throughout the United States:
the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, and
the Inter-Tribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes.
In closing, companion legislation to H.R. 482 has been
introduced in the United States Senate (S. 1696) by senior
Georgia Senator Johnny Isakson and co-sponsored by Georgia's
junior Senator David Perdue (S. 1696). In view of this
extraordinary level of support, I ask for your assistance in
gaining the timely enactment of H.R. 482.
Thank you for your consideration.
Nathan Deal.
____

Greater Macon

Chamber of Commerce,

Macon, Georgia, June 11, 2015.
Hon. Tom McClintock,
Chairman, Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental
Protection, House Committee of Natural Resources,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman McClintock: I am writing in strong support of
H.R. 482, the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park
Boundary Revision Act of 2015 which states that the Ocmulgee
National Monument shall be known and designated as ``Ocmulgee
Mounds National Historical Park''.
The boundary of the Historical Park will be revised to
include approximately 2,100 acres and will provide protection
of important archaeological resources. This revision will
provide additional recreational opportunities, leading to
increased visitation thus more economic impact. Macon
citizens are understandably proud to have this grand park
within the city limits, and are thankful that city leaders
realized the importance of the mounds back in 1936. That was
the year that the Ocmulgee National Monument was established
as a memorial to some of the original settlers on the North
American continent. We believe that adding the word
``mounds'' to the monument's name will help Americans more
quickly understand the monument's connection to the
Mississippians and later, to the Creeks. After all, it is
``mounds'' that attract visitors who come to learn about the
cultures that were here hundreds of years before the
Europeans came.
Recently the National Park Service did an economic impact
study based on Ocmulgee's 2014 visitation and determined that
the park had a $6,887,000 impact on our local community.
Macon and its people are proud of the Monument, and we
believe that this change will help encourage even more
tourism and economic activity in the area.
The Chamber fully supports H. R. 482 and appreciates your
support as well.
Sincerely,
James M. Dyer,
President & CEO.
____

The Inter-Tribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes

A Resolution Supporting United States National Park Service's Expansion
of Ocmulgee National Monument and Requesting Congressional Enactment of
Authorized Legislation

Resolution No. 14-31

Whereas, the Inter-Tribal Council of the Five Civilized
Tribes (ITC) is an organization that unites the tribal
governments of the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee
(Creek), and Seminole Nations, representing over 500,000
Indian people throughout the United States; and
Whereas, the ITC strongly supports actions of its member
nations to preserve and to protect historic properties and
traditional cultural properties within respective ancestral
homelands in the American Southeast; and
Whereas, the historic Ocmulgee Old Fields, an expansive,
culturally defining historic landscape on the Fall-line of
the Ocmulgee River at Macon, Georgia is of significant
importance to the Muscogee (Creek) people; and
Whereas, the United States Congress, in recognition of the
significance of the many historic Muscogean properties
existing within the Ocmulgee Old Fields region, in 1934,
authorized the United States National Park Service to
establish the Ocmulgee National Monument as a means to
preserve the historic landscape; and
Whereas, in 1966 the Ocmulgee National Monument was listed
on the National Register of Historic Places; and
Whereas, in 1997 the National Park Service designated the
Ocmulgee National Monument as a Traditional Cultural Property
and the first recognized Traditional Cultural Property east
of the Mississippi River; and
Whereas, the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966,
was amended in 1992 to ensure that Tribes are provided a
meaningful role in federal decisions under Section 106 of the
Act; and
Whereas, the National Park Service has now introduced
legislation within both houses of the United States Congress
requesting authorization to extend its protective stewardship
over a broader area of the historic Ocmulgee Old Fields
through its proposed incorporation of 2100 acres of the
Ocmulgee Old Fields landscape into the Ocmulgee National
Monument; and
Whereas, the Government of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation has
determined that the proposed National Park Service expansion
of the Ocmulgee National Monument boundary within the
historic Ocmulgee Old Fields region is consistent with and is
in accord with preservation interests within the Ocmulgee Old
Fields; and
Whereas, the Government of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation has
supported the proposed National Park Service expansion of the
Ocmulgee National Monument and is now engaged in active
support for legislation pending in Congress to authorize said
action.
Now therefore be it resolved that, the ITC does hereby
support the proposed National Park Service expansion of the
geographic boundaries of the Ocmulgee National Monument
within the historic Ocmulgee Old Fields region and hereby
requests of the United States Congress deliberate and quick
action toward enacting authorizing legislation.

CERTIFICATION

The foregoing resolution was adopted by the Inter-Tribal
Council of the Five Civilized Tribes meeting in Durant,
Oklahoma on this 10th day of October, 2014, by a vote of 5
for, 0 against, and 0 abstentions.
Bill Anoatubby,
Governor, The Chickasaw Nation.
Gary Batton,
Chief, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.
Bill John Baker,
Principal Chief, Cherokee Nation.
George Tiger,
Principal Chief, Muscogee (Creek) Nation.
Leonard M. Harjo,
Principal Chief, Seminole Nation of Oklahoma.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. In short, I believe that H.R. 482 will
strengthen the current Ocmulgee National Monument and bolster the
economy and cultural life of Georgia, and beyond. I urge my colleagues
to support this legislation.
Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to
the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Austin Scott), my friend and the
cosponsor of this measure.
Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of
H.R. 482, the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park Boundary Act of
2016.
I would like to thank my colleague, Congressman Sanford Bishop of
Georgia. We have had many meetings in Washington, as well as back in
the district, on this particular issue. Certainly I have enjoyed
working with him on it.
Today's vote marks an important milestone in many years of effort to
bring about increased recognition and enhance cultural preservation of
the Ocmulgee National Monument.
The Ocmulgee National Monument was originally authorized by Congress
in 1934 to protect the Old Ocmulgee Fields, which includes a network of
very well-preserved Indian mounds of great historical importance. The
history of the fields can be traced back to Native Americans who first
came to the site during the Paleo-Indian period to hunt Ice Age
mammals.
The park is unique in that it vividly displays the story of many
stages of prehistoric cultural development, including the Mound Builder
period, and highlights the important role of agriculture in the region.
I am proud to represent this area of middle Georgia, along with
Congressman Sanford Bishop. Our offices have worked, along with many
regional community partners, to advance this goal.
By expanding the current Ocmulgee National Monument from 700 acres to
over 2,000 acres and redesignating the area as a National Historic
Park, this legislation will provide significant economic, educational,
and cultural benefits to middle Georgia.
Additionally, H.R. 482 will reauthorize a study for future expansions
and include increased opportunities for hunting, fishing, camping, and
other recreational activities.
The expansion of the Ocmulgee National Monument area provides for
critical preservation of additional archeological locations through the
Old Ocmulgee Fields. Because of its significant historical and
archeological importance, the future Ocmulgee Mounds National Historic
Park must be preserved.
The expanded park also will generate additional tourism in middle
Georgia, while educating visitors on the fascinating history of the
many civilizations that have thrived in the region. However, it should
be noted that the property in the proposed expansion area would be
acquired only from willing donors or sellers using private

[[Page H1522]]

funds, and that no Federal dollars will be used to achieve expansion.
I want to take this time to thank Chairman Bishop and Ranking Member
Grijalva, as well as all the members of the House Committee on Natural
Resources, for their work to bring this legislation to the floor today.
I want to close by noting that this legislation is a true example of
what can be achieved when local, State, and Federal leaders work
together towards a common goal.
The Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park Boundary Act was created
from the ground up with many letters of support from the Macon-Bibb
area and well over 3,000 comments from individuals and community groups
in support of the expansion. Without this collaboration at every level,
none of this would be possible.
I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 482, the Ocmulgee
Mounds National Historical Park Boundary Act of 2016.
Ms. TSONGAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, due to its rich and diverse history, it is really only
fitting that the future Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park be
preserved as a lasting memorial to the native cultures, historic
structures, and priceless natural resources that reside on the land.
I want to thank Representative Sanford Bishop, who worked in
partnership with Representative Austin Scott--both of Georgia--for
their work on this bill, and I urge my colleagues to support its
adoption.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to recommend this bill
to the House, and I urge its adoption.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. McClintock) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 482, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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