[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 164 (Wednesday, November 16, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S6405]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 TRAIL OF TEARS NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL

  Mr. COTTON. Mr. President, in honor of the National Park Service's 
100th birthday year, I would like to recognize the Trail of Tears 
National Historic Trail, which covers nine States and thousands of 
miles of land and water routes.
  The Trail of Tears is rooted in a painful, unfortunate time for our 
Nation. Following the passage of the Indian Removal Act of 1830, five 
tribes were forced from their homes and into what is now modern-day 
Oklahoma. These five major Southeast tribes consisted of Cherokee, 
Choctaw, Muscogee, Chickasaw, and Seminole Indians. The trail gets its 
name from the painful trips these individuals took across the country 
as disease, desertion, and death characterized many of their journeys.
  Arkansas is a State full of rich history and heritage. While it is 
sometimes painful to recall, the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail 
is a critical part of that history. The National Park Service gave this 
trail this distinction in an effort to preserve the story of the forced 
migration of these Native Americans. We must learn from the mistakes of 
our past so we do not repeat them in the future.

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