This bill proposes to redesignate the existing Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park as the "Ocmulgee Mounds National Park." This change aims to elevate its status within the National Park System, under which it will continue to be administered according to generally applicable laws. The Secretary of the Interior is authorized to make technical corrections to the official park map and ensure its public availability. The legislation includes specific provisions for the park's administration, such as allowing fishing within its waters, subject to federal and state laws, with the Secretary retaining authority to designate no-fishing zones for safety or resource management. Crucially, the bill emphasizes tribal engagement , requiring the Secretary to seek increased employment opportunities for members of Indian tribes and ensuring continued consultation with them. It also mandates the protection of sacred and cultural sites within the park, providing access for tribes with ancestral connections. Furthermore, the Secretary is authorized to enter into agreements with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and other interested Indian tribes for the management and preservation of the park's natural and cultural resources. A significant provision requires the Secretary to take approximately 133.88 acres of land currently held in fee by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation into trust for their benefit. This land will become part of the Muscogee Creek Indian Reservation, though it will be explicitly prohibited from being used for Class II or Class III gaming.
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Timeline
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Ocmulgee Mounds National Park Redesignation Act
USA119th CongressHR-9416| House
| Updated: 6/24/2026
This bill proposes to redesignate the existing Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park as the "Ocmulgee Mounds National Park." This change aims to elevate its status within the National Park System, under which it will continue to be administered according to generally applicable laws. The Secretary of the Interior is authorized to make technical corrections to the official park map and ensure its public availability. The legislation includes specific provisions for the park's administration, such as allowing fishing within its waters, subject to federal and state laws, with the Secretary retaining authority to designate no-fishing zones for safety or resource management. Crucially, the bill emphasizes tribal engagement , requiring the Secretary to seek increased employment opportunities for members of Indian tribes and ensuring continued consultation with them. It also mandates the protection of sacred and cultural sites within the park, providing access for tribes with ancestral connections. Furthermore, the Secretary is authorized to enter into agreements with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and other interested Indian tribes for the management and preservation of the park's natural and cultural resources. A significant provision requires the Secretary to take approximately 133.88 acres of land currently held in fee by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation into trust for their benefit. This land will become part of the Muscogee Creek Indian Reservation, though it will be explicitly prohibited from being used for Class II or Class III gaming.