Jon Ossoff (D-GA)
Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve Establishment Act
A Democratic bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 119-238.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill seeks to establish the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve in Georgia. It re-designates the existing Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park as the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park. The legislation allows the Secretary of the Interior to acquire land through purchase, donation, or exchange, but prohibits the use of eminent domain. It creates an Advisory Council to help develop a management plan focused on cultural resources and landscapes. Additionally, the bill establishes specific provisions for hunting, fishing, and tribal hiring preferences.
Yes· 3 of 7
- Scored +9
Would Native Americans be better off under this?
The bill secures tribal land in trust, provides hiring preferences, and protects sacred sites for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.
- Scored +7
Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests?
The bill establishes a National Park and Preserve with a management plan to preserve sacred sites and cultural landscapes.
- Scored +6
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
The bill provides for the management and preservation of cultural and natural landscapes through a formal management plan.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Tribal Employment Opportunities: The Secretary is required to establish policies that provide a preference for hiring members of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation for positions at the park and preserve (Section 4(d)).
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Protection of Sacred Sites: The bill mandates that the Secretary ensure the protection of sacred and cultural sites and provides access to these sites for tribal members with ancestral connections to the Ocmulgee River Corridor (Section 4(h)).
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Land Security for the Tribe: Approximately 126 acres of land owned by the Tribe will be taken into trust for their benefit (Section 6).
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Preservation of Cultural Heritage: The bill requires a management plan that includes the interpretation and preservation of cultural resources, such as burial grounds and other sacred sites (Section 4(b)(2)(A)).
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Recreational Access: The bill allows for hunting on land within the National Preserve and fishing on waters within the National Park and Preserve, subject to applicable laws (Section 4(c)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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No Eminent Domain Protection for Landowners: While the bill prohibits the use of eminent domain for land acquisition, it specifies that the Secretary may acquire land via purchase, donation, or exchange from willing sellers (Section 3(a)(3)(A) and Section 3(b)(2)(A)).
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Restrictions on Hunting and Fishing: The Secretary has the authority to designate specific zones or time periods where hunting or fishing is not allowed for reasons such as public safety or wildlife management (Section 4(c)(3)).
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Military Activity: The bill explicitly states that it does not prevent low-level military aircraft overflights, the designation of new special use airspace, or the use of military flight training routes over the park and preserve (Section 4(g)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests? — The bill establishes a National Park and Preserve with a management plan to preserve sacred sites and cultural landscapes. Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill provides for the management and preservation of cultural and natural landscapes through a formal management plan.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill secures tribal land in trust, provides hiring preferences, and protects sacred sites for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. Would gun owners be better off under this? — The bill explicitly allows for hunting within the boundaries of the National Preserve.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill enhances tribal land rights and establishes hiring preferences for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill establishes hiring preferences for tribal members for positions at the park and preserve.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to acquire land for the new National Park and Preserve.
- 12/9/2025
- Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 119-238.
- 3/25/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Raphael WarnockDemocrat · Georgia