119-s1516

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1516 Introduced in Senate

    (IS) ]

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119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 S. 1516

 To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special 
 resource study of the Cahokia Mounds, Emerald Mounds, and Pulcher 
 Mounds in the State of Illinois, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

 April 29, 2025

 Mr. Durbin (for himself and Ms. Duckworth) introduced the following 
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and 
 Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special 
 resource study of the Cahokia Mounds, Emerald Mounds, and Pulcher 
 Mounds in the State of Illinois, and for other purposes.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

 This Act may be cited as the ``Cahokia Mounds Mississippian Culture 
Study Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

 Congress finds that--

    (1) the city of Cahokia--
        (A) was inhabited from approximately A.D. 700 to 
 1400; and
        (B) at its peak from A.D. 1050 to 1200--
            (i) covered nearly 6 square miles; and
            (ii) was home to 10,000 to 20,000 people;

    (2) more than 120 mounds were built over time at the site 
 of the city of Cahokia;

    (3) the site of the city of Cahokia is named for the 
 Cahokia subtribe of the Illinois Confederation, who moved into 
 the area in the 1600s;

    (4) the city of Cahokia was the central hub and largest 
 city of the Mississippian culture that ruled and traded across 
 half of North America, more than 1,250,000 square miles;

    (5) the city of Cahokia--
        (A) was the first known organized urbanization and 
 government north of Mexico; and
        (B) at its peak, was larger than most European 
 cities, including London;

    (6) some of the Cahokia Mounds, which were built from A.D. 
 900 to 1400, still stand as earthen monuments and remnants of 
 Mississippian culture, which is the greatest prehistoric 
 ancient culture in North America, the people of which are 
 ancestors to many of today's First People and Nations; and

    (7) the Cahokia Mounds are designated as--
        (A) a National Historic Landmark;
        (B) an Illinois State Historic Site; and
            (C) a United Nations Educational, Scientific, and 
 Cultural Organization World Heritage Site.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

 In this Act:

    (1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
 of the Interior.

    (2) Study area.--The term ``Study Area'' means--
        (A) the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site;
        (B) the Emerald Mounds in St. Clair County, 
 Illinois; and
            (C) the Pulcher Mounds in Monroe and St. Clair 
 Counties, Illinois.

SEC. 4. SPECIAL RESOURCE STUDY.

    (a) Study.--The Secretary shall conduct a special resource study of 
the Study Area.

    (b) Contents.--In conducting the study under subsection

    (a) , the 
Secretary shall--

    (1) evaluate the national significance of the Study Area;

    (2) determine the suitability and feasibility of 
 designating the Study Area as a unit of the National Park 
 System;

    (3) consider other alternatives for preservation, 
 protection, and interpretation of the Study Area by--
        (A) Federal, State, or local governmental entities; 
 or
        (B) private and nonprofit organizations;

    (4) consult with--
        (A) interested entities of the Federal Government 
 or State or local governmental entities;
        (B) private and nonprofit organizations; or
            (C) any other interested individuals; and

    (5) identify cost estimates for any Federal acquisition, 
 development, interpretation, operation, and maintenance 
 associated with the alternatives considered under paragraph

    (3) .
            (c) Applicable Law.--The study required under subsection

    (a) shall 
be conducted in accordance with 

section 100507 of title 54, United 
States Code.
            (d) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date on which funds 
are first made available to conduct the study required under subsection

    (a) , the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the 
House of Representatives a report containing--

    (1) the results of the study; and

    (2) any conclusions and recommendations of the Secretary.
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