Reps. Austin Scott, Sanford Bishop, Senators Jon Ossoff, and Rev. Warnock Reintroduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Establish Ocmulgee Mounds as Georgia’s First National Park & Preserve

This press release from Representative Austin Scott (R-GA) was published on 2026-04-29 and titled "Reps. Austin Scott, Sanford Bishop, Senators Jon Ossoff, and Rev. Warnock Reintroduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Esta". It focuses on immigration and touches on taxes, the environment.

Reps. Austin Scott, Sanford Bishop, Senators Jon Ossoff, and Rev. Warnock Reintroduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Establish Ocmulgee Mounds as Georgia’s First National Park & Preserve

WASHINGTON, D.C.-- U.S. Representatives Austin Scott (GA-08) and Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02), alongside U.S. Senators Jon Ossoff and Reverend Raphael Warnock, reintroduced the bipartisan Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve Establishment Act , which would establish the Ocmulgee Mounds and surrounding areas in Middle Georgia as Georgia's first National Park and Preserve. "Establishing the Ocmulgee Mounds and surrounding areas as Georgia's first National Park and Preserve remains a top bipartisan initiative for all lawmakers and stakeholders involved," said Rep. Austin Scott. "The Ocmulgee Mounds are of invaluable cultural, communal, and economic significance to our state, and I am committed to keeping this initiative moving forward." "I am proud to join my colleagues in reintroducing this bipartisan bill. By establishing the Ocmulgee Mounds as Georgia's first National Park and Preserve, we are highlighting over 17,000 years of history and culture as well as welcoming people from across the country to enjoy Georgia's natural beauty," said Rep. Bishop . "Elevating the status of and expanding this site to a national park and preserve will raise awareness about it, increase public hunting and fishing grounds, encourage more visitors to our area, and boost the local economy." "We made unprecedented progress last Congress toward creating Georgia's first ever National Park," Senator Ossoff said. "I look forward to working alongside Congressman Scott, Senator Reverend Warnock, Congressman Bishop, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, and local leaders to successfully establish Georgia's first national park." "Ocmulgee Mounds is a living testament to our intertwined histories and a robust source of economic and cultural vitality, so I'm proud to continue supporting the bipartisan, bicameral efforts to establish Ocmulgee Mounds as Georgia's first National Park and Preserve," said Senator Reverend Warnock. "I want to thank Congressmen Scott and Bishop for their yearslong efforts on this in the U.S. House, as well as Senator Ossoff for his leadership. Local leaders and everyday Georgians have been waiting for Congress to act and now is the time. Working together, we can prove what is possible when we put politics aside to serve the people of Georgia." The House bill is cosponsored by 11 other members of Georgia's Congressional Delegation: Representatives Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (GA-01), Brian Jack (GA-03), Henry C. "Hank" Johnson (GA-04), Nikema Williams (GA-05), Lucy McBath (GA-06), Rich McCormick (GA-07), Mike Collins (GA-10), Barry Loudermilk (GA-11), Rick Allen (GA-12), David Scott (GA-13), and Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA-14). The area is the ancestral home of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and has been inhabited continuously by humans for over 12,000 years. American Indians first arrived in the area during the Paleo-Indian Period hunting Ice Age mammals. Around 900 CE, the Mississippian Period began, and Muskogean people constructed mounds for meeting, living, burial, agricultural, and other purposes, many of which remain today and would be encompassed in the new U.S. National Park and Preserve. " The Muscogee (Creek) Nation remains steadfast in our support of the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve Bill. The opportunity to make the historic Ocmulgee Mounds a national park is so important to us because we have been included, we have been shown the respect of collaboration, and because of that we can feel confident that the living history that will be told here is authentic and has the power to elevate Georgia forever. We are thrilled to continue offering our support for this legislation every step of the way," said David Hill, Principal Chief of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. "I cannot overstate the importance of this legislation to our region, state, and country. Tens of millions of private dollars have been leveraged to conserve the precious cultural and ecological resources of the Ocmulgee Corridor and this bipartisan legislation allows us to continue to grow the middle Georgia economy, protect our national security interests at Robin Air Force Base, expand hunting and fishing access, and authentically preserve some of the most culturally significant sites in the country," said Seth Clark, Macon Mayor Pro Tempore and Executive Director of the Ocmulgee National Park and Preserve Initiative. "We're grateful for the continued bipartisan dedication of the Georgia delegation. And call for the swift passage of this legislation this year so that we can continue our stewardship of this landscape and our economy." "Preserving the undeveloped lands within the Ocmulgee River Corridor is critical to safeguarding Robins Air Force Base from incompatible land use, ensuring we can sustain our national security missions," said Brig. Gen. John C. Kubinec, USAF (ret), President/CEO of 21st Century Partnership. "This park and preserve will also provide our military members and their families with valuable opportunities for outdoor