Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park Boundary Revision Act of 2016

Floor Speech

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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 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,

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.

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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.

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