WASHINGTON – A new bill has been introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives that will redesignate the Ocmulgee Mounds Historical Park to the “Ocmulgee Mounds National Park.” U.S. Representative Austin Scott introduced H.R. 9416, the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park Redesignation Act, in the House on Wednesday, June 24. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources and, on Wednesday, July 1, to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
If signed into law, the Ocmulgee Mounds will fall in line with the laws applicable to the National Park System. These laws include permitting fishing and continuing to allow the State of Georgia to regulate wildlife management.
According to the bill, it would not prevent Ocmulgee Mounds leadership from consulting with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation on protecting traditional cultural and religious sites within the park. The 133.88 acres of land held in fee by the MCN would also be put in trust.
The bill has 11 cosponsors: Georgia Representatives Sanford Bishop, Earl Carl, Brian Jack, Henry Johnson, Nikema Williams, Richard McCormick, Mike Collins, Rick Allen, Clay Fuller, Barry Loudermilk, and Lucy McBath.
In remarks before the House Committee on Natural Resources, Rep. Scott said this bill is a continuation of bipartisan efforts since 1934.
“The bill before you is a straightforward next step,” Rep. Scott said. “It makes no changes to the park boundary and focuses on conferring National Park status. H.R. 9416 represents a historic opportunity to safeguard a cultural landscape in the Southeast and support stewardship of natural resources for future generations.”
Rep. Bishop said the park could generate an estimated $34M in tax revenue for the State of Georgia and support over 3,000 jobs.
“Our bill today represents a small, albeit meaningful step forward that will strengthen Ocmulgee and ensure its cultural and religious sites are protected now and into the future. It reflects key input from stakeholders at the federal, state, and local levels, including the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, whose sacred and revered ancestral sites are located inside the proposed boundary,” Rep. Bishop said.
Visit Macon President and CEO Gary Wheat testified on the relationship between the City of Macon and the MCN. He described the redesignation as a “golden opportunity” that will open new jobs in the area. According to Wheat, the annual Ocmulgee Indigenous Celebration allows 250-300 Mvskoke citizens to visit the homelands.
“The relationship (City of Macon and MCN) only continues to grow and strengthen because we have that Ocmulgee to Okmulgee, Oklahoma relationship,” Wheat said.
“We’re very proud of that and very proud to see where it goes as far as culturally, economically, and being able to be a part of their Nation as well as welcome back to the ancestral homeland.”
Wheat also discussed how the installation of the Mvskoke language Macon street signs further connects the area to the Nation.
This is not the first bill to establish the Ocmulgee Mounds as a National Park. H.R. 8182, The Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve Establishment Act, was introduced in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, November 19, 2024. Another bill of the same name, S.4216, was introduced in the Senate on Tuesday, April 30, 2024.
This year’s annual Ocmulgee Indigenous Celebration will be held on Saturday, September 12, and Sunday, September 13, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The free event will feature cultural crafts, storytelling, live demonstrations, music, and a social Stomp Dance.
View the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve Corridor Strategic Plan here. For those who would like to support the redesignation, donate here.
