Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve Establishment Act

# Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve Establishment Act Summary **What the Bill Would Do:** This bill would establish the Ocmulgee Mounds area in Georgia as a new national park and preserve. Currently, the site operates as Ocmulgee Mounds National Monument. The legislation would upgrade its status to a national park, which typically means greater federal protection, increased funding, and expanded recreational opportunities. The bill addresses various operational details including land management, staffing, employee compensation, and the creation of advisory bodies to oversee the park. **Who It Affects and Key Provisions:** The bill directly affects visitors to the park, residents in the surrounding Macon, Georgia area, and Native American tribes with historical connections to the site (the mounds are archaeologically significant to several tribes).

Key provisions address federal employee hiring and pay for park management, hunting and fishing regulations, minority employment practices, and tribal consultation on park operations. The bill also handles the mechanics of transferring land and resources needed to establish the new park. **Current Status:** As of now, HR 2345 remains in committee and has not yet been voted on by the full House. The bill was introduced by Representative Austin Scott (R-GA) in the 119th Congress.