Reps. Austin Scott, Sanford Bishop, Senators Jon Ossoff, and Rev. Warnock Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Establish Ocmulgee Mounds as Georgia’s First National Park &[...]

WASHINGTON, D.C.-- U.S. Representatives Austin Scott (GA-08) and Sanford Bishop (GA-02), alongside U.S. Senators Jon Ossoff and Reverend Raphael Warnock, introduced bipartisan legislation to establish Georgia's first National Park.

Reps. Scott and Bishop and Sens. Ossoff and Rev. Warnock introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Ocmulgee Mounds Park and Preserve Establishment Act, which would establish Ocmulgee Mounds and surrounding areas in Middle Georgia as a National Park and Preserve.

The House bill is cosponsored by 11 other members of Georgia's Congressional Delegation: Reps. Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (GA-01), Drew Ferguson (GA-03), Henry C. "Hank" Johnson (GA-04), Nikema Williams (GA-05), Rich McCormick (GA-06), Lucy McBath (GA-07), Mike Collins (GA-10), Barry Loudermilk (GA-11), Rick Allen (GA-12), David Scott (GA-13), and Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA-14).

The area is the ancestral home of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and has been inhabited continuously by humans for over 12,000 years. American Indians first arrived in the area during the Paleo-Indian Period hunting Ice Age mammals. Around 900 CE, the Mississippian Period began, and Muskogean people constructed mounds for meeting, living, burial, agricultural, and other purposes, many of which remain today and would be encompassed in the new U.S. National Park and Preserve.

Late last year, the U.S. National Park Service released a Special Resource Study that was initiated in response to a bill authored and passed into law by Reps. Scott and Bishop and former Senators Isakson and Perdue in 2019 that had been first introduced in 2014 by Reps. Scott and Bishop and former Senators Isakson and Chambliss.

The new bipartisan bill incorporates information from the Special Resource Study to define the boundaries of the proposed National Park and Preserve in close coordination with the feedback collected from the Muscogee (Creek) Nation; local elected officials; business, faith, agricultural, environmental, and community leaders; Robins Air Force Base; and more.

"The Ocmulgee Mounds are of invaluable cultural, communal, and economic significance to our state. Designating them as the first National Park and Preserve in Georgia is a great bipartisan and intragovernmental effort, and I thank Rep. Sanford Bishop, Senators Ossoff and Warnock, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, and all local stakeholders for their efforts to preserve this remarkable cultural site," Rep. Austin Scott said.

"This bill reflects the voice of a multitude of Georgians who wish to elevate the Ocmulgee Mounds to its proper place as one of America's National Parks. The new Ocmulgee Mounds National Park will encompass lands that are rich in historical and cultural resources which provide abundant opportunities for hunting, camping, fishing, and other recreational activities,"said Rep. Bishop. "This bipartisan bill is the product of a longstanding effort that not only honors the Muscogee Creek Nation and our country's indigenous people but also the vibrant history, culture, and natural beauty of our state. As a national park we can better preserve and draw thousands of visitors a year to this national treasure."

"It is thrilling to introduce this bipartisan legislation that would establish Georgia's first National Park & Preserve right here in Macon-Bibb County and Middle Georgia,"Senator Ossoff said. "I'm grateful to Congressman Scott, Congressman Bishop, and Senator Reverend Warnock. Above all, I want to commend the extraordinary efforts of local officials, and in particular, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and Macon-Bibb County Mayor Pro Tem Seth Clark for their years of hard work, advocacy, and leadership that has made this moment possible."

"Ocmulgee Mounds is a living testament to our intertwined histories and a robust source of economic and cultural vitality, so I'm proud to support the bipartisan, bicameral efforts to establish Ocmulgee Mounds as Georgia's first National Park and Preserve,"said Senator Reverend Warnock."I want to thank Congressmen Scott and Bishop for their yearslong efforts on this in the U.S. House, as well as Senator Ossoff for his leadership. Working together, we are proving what is possible when we put politics aside and center the people of Georgia."

"The Muscogee (Creek) Nation has worked closely with Senators Ossoff and Warnock and Representatives Scott and Bishop to help develop and review the draft Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve Bill. We are in full support of the draft text and proposed boundary of the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve unit. We are thrilled to see this bill introduced and stand ready to support this legislation every step of the way," said David W. Hill, Principal Chief of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. "It has been a privilege and honor to collaborate with these Senators, Members, and their staff to establish Georgia's first National Park and Preserve. The Ocmulgee Mounds, Ocmulgee River, and all of middle Georgia hold historical significance to The Muscogee (Creek) Nation. We are ready to help preserve and co-manage the land which holds the rich cultural history, natural resources, and recreational opportunities that a National Park and Preserve will bring to Georgia."

"The Ocmulgee Corridor is a special place, recognized as one of America's most important wildlife habitat corridors, tribally significant landscapes, and archaeological sites with the opportunity of creating the first and only National Park and Preserve in Georgia,"said Seth C. Clark, Macon-Bibb County Mayor Pro Tempore and Executive Director of the Ocmulgee National Park and Preserve Initiative."Conserving the series of ecological and cultural assets as a National Park and Preserve is vital to the region. It will enhance resilience for local ecosystems by preserving biodiversity hotspots, which are most effective in larger contiguous landscapes, offer an avenue for co-management between the federally recognized tribe of purview, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and the Department of Interior, protect and enhance hunting and fishing access, protect private property rights in middle Georgia, and serve as a robust form of economic development for the Middle Georgia region. The Park and Preserve is key to the success of this mission, which, in turn, is key to the economic well-being of Macon-Bibb County and the region. All of these factors, as well as the reconciliation offered to our region through an authentic relationship with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, are vital to the long-term viability of middle Georgia and as such I proudly support the creation of the National Park and Preserve. I urge Congress to act this year so that Middle Georgia can finally begin the next chapter in their stewardship of this important landscape."

"It is imperative to be at the table when creating a management plan, rather than have it presented after the fact in consultation; with the absence of a genuine eye to eye relationship with the ancestral people, the story of ancient architectural marvels becomes one of archeological terminology," said Tracie Revis, citizen and former chief of staff of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Director of Advocacy for the Ocmulgee National Park and Preserve Initiative (ONPPI). "Through this legislation the Muscogee (Creek) Nation is offered the opportunity to be in full partnership to protect their own cultural and natural resources through co-management."

"This historic legislation has been almost a century in the making and is one of the most consequential civic and economic development efforts in my lifetime. Like our efforts to protect this landscape and grow our economy locally, this legislation reflects a bipartisan commitment to stewardship, partnership, and reconciliation,"said Macon-Bibb County Mayor Lester Miller. "I am proud to support the legislation to create the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve and urge Congress to pass it swiftly so that we can continue our efforts in protecting these lands, growing our economy, and moving forward together with our Muscogee (Creek) brothers and sisters."

"The Ocmulgee River is a special place, recognized by the National Park Service as one of America's most important and significant wildlife habitat corridors, tribally significant landscapes, and archaeological sites with the opportunity of creating the First and only National Park and Preserve in Georgia. The legislation to create the Park and Preserve unit is carefully tailored to the recommendations of the National Park Service's Special Resource Study and has broad local support across varying fields, interests, and political ideologies,"said Dan Perdue, Chairman of the Houston County Board of Commissioners."Conserving the series of ecological and cultural assets as a National Park and Preserve is vital to the region. It will serve as a robust form of long term and stable economic development for the Middle Georgia region, enhance climate resilience for local ecosystems by preserving biodiversity hotspots, which are most effective in larger contiguous landscapes, offer an avenue for co-management between the tribal, state and federal land managers, and constitute one of the largest potential expansions of public hunting and fishing access in Georgia."

"To continue the robust effort of creating full connectivity of the corridor, we fully support the passage of legislation during the 118th Congress to establish and create the first and only National Park and Preserve in Georgia," said Douglas Chance, Chairman of Twiggs County Board of Commissioners and Judith Sherling, Executive Director of the Development Authority of the City of Jeffersonville & Twiggs County. "By protecting this landscape, working with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation as co-managers of their ancestral homeland, preserving the diverse wildlife habitat, protecting and increasing access to public hunting, fishing, and wildlife habitat, and increases name recognition and thereby national and international prominence of this treasure, this legislation will finally allow the Middle Georgia, local and national conservationist, the hunting and angling enthusiasts, and Muscogee (Creek) communities to preserve the corridor for generations to come."

"One of the key economic engines of Middle Georgia is Robins Air Force Base (RAFB) in Warner Robins. This Park and Preserve will potentially offer a quality of life increase for the communities housed on base and the families who live in the region. It will also allow partners to put land along the Ocmulgee flood plain near the base into conservation, helping stave off encroachment into flight pattern areas. Future development in the areas east of the base is important to protect against incompatible land use,"said Brig. Gen John C. Kubinec, USAF (ret), President/CEO of 21st Century Partnership."Conserving undeveloped lands within the Ocmulgee River Corridor will help the base continue to fulfill our national security missions, which is vital to the economic vitality of the entire Middle Georgia region."

The full text of the legislation can be found here.

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