[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 68 (Thursday, April 18, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S2877]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DURBIN (for himself and Ms. Duckworth):

[[Page S2877]]

  S. 4164. A bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct 
a special resource study of the Cahokia Mounds and surrounding land in 
the States of Illinois and Missouri, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of 
the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 4164

       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 ``Cahokia Mounds Mississippian 
     Culture Study Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds that--
       (1) the city of Cahokia--
       (A) was inhabited from approximately A.D. 700 to 1400; and
       (B) at its peak from A.D. 1050 to 1200--
       (i) covered nearly 6 square miles; and
       (ii) was home to 10,000 to 20,000 people;
       (2) more than 120 mounds were built over time at the site 
     of the city of Cahokia;
       (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;
       (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;
       (5) the city of Cahokia--
       (A) was the first known organized urbanization and 
     government north of Mexico; and
       (B) at its peak, was larger than most European cities, 
     including London;
       (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
       (7) the Cahokia Mounds are designated as--
       (A) a National Historic Landmark;
       (B) an Illinois State Historic Site; and
       (C) a United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural 
     Organization World Heritage Site.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.
       (2) Study area.--The term ``Study Area'' means--
       (A) the Cahokia Mounds site;
       (B) land in Collinsville and Monroe, Madison, and St. Clair 
     Counties, Illinois, and St. Louis County, Missouri, 
     surrounding the Cahokia Mounds site;
       (C) satellite sites thematically connected to the Cahokia 
     Mounds site; and
       (D) Mitchell Mound, Sugarloaf Mound, Emerald Mound, Pulcher 
     Mounds, East St. Louis Mounds, and the St. Louis Mound Group.

     SEC. 4. 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) private and nonprofit organizations; or
       (C) 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 1 year 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.
       (e) Funding.--The study required under subsection (a) shall 
     be carried out using existing funds of the National Park 
     Service.
                                 ______