Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park Boundary Revision Act

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Bishop). I know he has had a busy week, as I have, with his district being affected by the storms. I certainly want to take a second to thank America for their prayers and their support. It has been overwhelming. A tremendous number of churches have opened their doors, and there are volunteers out there helping people. I thank all who have participated.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 538, the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park Boundary Revision Act of 2017. I am happy this legislation is being considered before the full House in this Congress. I am hopeful we can reach an agreement with the Senate to pass this legislation and have it signed into law.

For years, there has been a great effort to bring about increased recognition of the enhanced 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 together, along with many regional community partners, to advance this goal.

By expanding the current Ocmulgee National Monument area from 700 acres to just over 2,000 acres and redesignating the area as a national historical park, the legislation will provide significant economic, educational, and cultural benefits to middle Georgia. Additionally, H.R. 538 will authorize a resources study for future further 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 archaeological locations throughout the Old Ocmulgee Fields. Because of its significant historical and archaeological importance, the future Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical 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. It should be noted that the property in the proposed expansion area would be acquired only from willing donors or sellers, using private funds, and that no Federal dollars will be used to achieve the expansion.

I want to take this time to thank Chairman Bishop and Ranking Member Grijalva as well as all 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 a local community, State leaders, and the Federal Government collaborate toward a worthy goal.

The Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park Boundary Revision 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. 538, the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park Boundary Revision Act of 2017.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 538, the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historic Park Boundary Revision Act of 2017.

First, I thank the gentleman from the Northern Mariana Islands (Mr. Sablan) for yielding. And I thank the coauthor of the legislation, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Austin Scott), my friend and colleague. He has been a tireless advocate on behalf of this legislation, and we would not be here today without his help and his advice.

I also thank Chairman Rob Bishop and Ranking Member Raul Grijalva from the full Committee on Natural Resources for their work in bringing this bill to the floor so early in the 115th Congress.

In the 114th Congress, Chairman McClintock and Ranking Member Tsongas of the Subcommittee on Federal Lands were very helpful as well, and I commend them and their staffs, especially Terry Camp and Brandon Bragato, for their efforts.

This legislation was approved last March by the full House of Representatives by voice vote. The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources also approved a companion bill, but it was not considered by the full Senate prior to the adjournment of the 114th Congress.

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 again to settle the Macon Plateau. It is what makes the Ocmulgee National Monument so unique. On its 702 acres, one can find archaeological evidence from these first nomads, the mound builders of the Mississippian Period, British traders of the late 17th century, as well as the Civil War period.

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 archaeological resources, linking two currently noncontiguous areas and improving the site's connection to the city of Macon, Georgia. Most of the land will be donated from nonprofit associations and government agencies. Property will also be acquired only from willing donors or willing sellers, subject to the availability of funding.

Second, the bill would change the name from Ocmulgee National Monument to Ocmulgee Mounds National Historic Park, which would increase name recognition and draw additional visitors.

Finally, H.R. 538 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 mayor Robert Reichert, the Macon Chamber of Commerce, the Macon-Bibb Visitors Bureau, the Macon-Bibb Commission, the Macon-Bibb Economic Development Commission, the Ocmulgee National Park and Preserve Initiative, and the Inter-Tribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes: Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee (Creek), and Seminole.

In short, I believe that H.R. 538 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. I urge my colleagues to support the legislation and urge its passage.

At 12:02 p.m., a message from the House of Representatives, delivered by Mrs. Cole, one of its reading clerks, announced that the House has passed the following bills, in which it requests the concurrence of the Senate:

H.R. 46. An act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior

to conduct a special resource study of Fort Ontario in the

State of New York.

H.R. 339. An act to amend Public Law 94-241 with respect to

the Northern Mariana Islands.

H.R. 374. An act to remove the sunset provision of section

203 of Public Law 105-384, and for other purposes.

H.R. 381. An act to designate a mountain in the John Muir

Wilderness of the Sierra National Forest as ``Sky Point''.

H.R. 538. An act to redesignate Ocmulgee National Monument

in the State of Georgia and revise its boundary, and for

other purposes.

H.R. 558. An act to adjust the boundary of the Kennesaw

Mountain National Battlefield Park to include the Wallis

House and Harriston Hill, and for other purposes.

H.R. 560. An act to amend the Delaware Water Gap National

Recreation Area Improvement Act to provide access to certain

vehicles serving residents of municipalities adjacent to the

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, and for other

purposes.

The message further announced that pursuant to 22 U.S.C. 1928a, and the order of the House of January 3, 2017, the Speaker appoints the following Members of the House of Representatives to the United States Group of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly: Mr. Connolly of Virginia and Ms. Frankel of Florida.

The message also announced that pursuant to 22 U.S.C. 2903, and the order of the House of January 3, 2017, the Speaker appoints the following Member of the House of Representatives to the Japan-United States Friendship Commission: Mr. Takano of California.

The message further announced that pursuant to 22 U.S.C. 2761, and the order of the House of January 3, 2017, the Speaker appoints the following Member of the House of Representatives to the British- American Interparliamentary Group: Mr. Cicilline of Rhode Island.

The message also announced that pursuant to 22 U.S.C. 3003, and the order of the House of January 3, 2017, the Speaker appoints the following Members of the House of Representatives to the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe: Mr. Hastings of Florida and Mr. Cohen of Tennessee.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 538) to redesignate Ocmulgee National Monument in the State of Georgia and revise its boundary, and for other purposes, as amended.

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.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, the Ocmulgee Mounds are among the oldest archaeological sites in our country. The earthworks date back before 1000 A.D., and the site has evidence of human habitation dating back to the ice age, some 17,000 years ago. Between the 10th and 12th centuries A.D., the site was occupied by a sophisticated society that we know as the Macon Plateau culture, which built earthen mounds up to 55 feet in height, representing a distinct political and cultural society.

It is believed that Hernando de Soto recorded the site as the chiefdom of Ichisi in 1540. Just before the American Revolution, naturalist William Bartram marveled at ``the wonderful remains of the power and grandeur of the ancients in this part of America.''

H.R. 538, introduced by the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Bishop), 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 to be acquired by donation or exchange only.

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 System. 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.

The bill was passed by voice vote in the House in the 114th Congress. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of its passage today.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Austin Scott), the cosponsor of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today regarding missed votes on Monday, January 30, 2017. Had I been present for roll call vote number 66, H.R. 374, To remove the sunset provision of section 203 of Public Law 105-384, and for other purposes, I would have voted ``yea.'' Had I been present for roll call vote number 67, H.R. 538, the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park Boundary Revision Act of 2017, I would have voted ``yea.''