Ocmulgee Mounds Park and Preserve one step closer to becoming Georgia’s first national park

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The bipartisan Ocmulgee Mounds Park and Preserve Establishment Act has passed a key U.S. Senate Committee — a key step toward establishing Georgia’s first-ever National Park and Preserve in middle Georgia.

The U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources voted to advance the bipartisan, bicameral Ocmulgee Mounds Park and Preserve Establishment Act to the full U.S. Senate for consideration.

In May, U.S. Sens. Jon Ossoff and the Rev Raphael Warnock, alongside Congressmen Austin Scott and Sanford D. Bishop Jr., introduced the bipartisan, bicameral bill, which would establish Ocmulgee Mounds and surrounding areas in middle Georgia as a National Park and Preserve.

Shortly after introduction, in May, the U.S. Senate National Parks Subcommittee held a hearing to receive testimony from the National Park Service on the legislation.

“This is historic and unprecedented progress toward establishing Georgia’s first national park, but more work remains ahead,” Ossoff said. “I’m grateful to Congressman Scott, Congressman Bishop, and Sen. Warnock for their partnership, as well as the extraordinary efforts of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Macon-Bibb County Mayor Pro Tem Seth Clark, and local leaders for their years of hard work, advocacy and leadership.”

“Ocmulgee Mounds is a living testament to our intertwined histories and a source of economic and cultural vitality; I’m proud to see this legislation to establish Ocmulgee Mounds as Georgia’s first National Park and Preserve taking one more step toward becoming law,” Warnock said. “I want to thank Congressmen Scott and Bishop for their yearslong efforts on this in the U.S. House, as well as Sen. Ossoff for his leadership. Working together, we are proving what is possible when we put politics aside and center the people of Georgia.”

The U.S. House Subcommittee on Federal Lands held a hearing on the House version of the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve Establishment Act, where the subcommittee heard testimony from Clark, among others. Both Reps. Scott and Bishop offered testimony during the hearing.

“This hearing was further progress in making history by establishing Georgia’s first National Park and Preserve,” Scott said. “I appreciate the Federal Lands Subcommittee listening to middle Georgians about this greatly supported effort to preserve the Ocmulgee Mounds and surrounding areas for generations to come.”

“This is another step forward toward realizing a long-standing dream that has broad, bipartisan support – not only in middle Georgia, but throughout the state,” Bishop said. “Not only will this historically create Georgia’s first National Park and Preserve, but it will also raise the profile of Ocmulgee Mounds, bolster the local economy, and welcome more Georgians and Americans to enjoy its rich cultural and natural beauty.”

Middle Georgia leaders celebrated the progress of the bill in the Senate and House.

“The impact of this bipartisan and bicameral bill to create Georgia’s first national park and preserve will allow our ancestral Muscogee descendants to help tell the story of our homelands,” Muscogee (Creek) Principal Chief David Hill said. “We know the importance of these cultural lands and are excited to partner with middle Georgians to help reconcile our lands and our stories. I am always humbled to be back in the lands of our people and know that we are still here today carrying on our Muscogee ways.”

“Congress’ actions today reiterate what we’ve always known: That the cultural and ecological gems of middle Georgia are some of the most nationally significant sites in the United States of America and are worthy of the designation we’ve sought for 90 years,” Seth Clark and Tracie Revis of the Ocmulgee National Park and Preserve Initiative said. “We’re grateful for continued bipartisanship the Georgia delegation has shown throughout the legislative process and stand ready to work with the multitude of stakeholders to shepherd in Georgia’s first National Park and Preserve.”

“We’re thrilled to see Congress making progress on protecting the encroachment zone of Robins Air Force Base by moving the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve Act forward,” Ret. Brigadier General John C. Kubinec, CEO of the 21st Century Partnership and former Commander of Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex at Robins Air Force Base, said. “It is the right step forward for middle Georgia, and I look forward to Congress sending this legislation to the president’s desk before the end of the year.”

Special Photo: National Park Service