S-1516-119
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 478.
Sponsored by Richard Durbin (D-IL)
What it does
This bill would direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study of the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, Emerald Mounds, and Pulcher Mounds in Illinois. The study would assess national significance, evaluate whether the sites should become a unit of the National Park System, consider alternative preservation approaches, consult with Indian Tribes and other stakeholders, and estimate costs, with a report due to Congress within three years of funding.
Who benefits
Preservation advocates, historians, and archaeologists interested in Mississippian culture; local Illinois communities near the sites that could see increased tourism if the sites gain National Park status; Indian Tribes with cultural ties to the Mississippian culture, who would be formally consulted; the National Park Service, which could eventually gain a new unit to manage.
Who is hurt
No group is meaningfully harmed by the study itself, though local landowners near the Study Area could later face land-use considerations if a park designation follows, and federal taxpayers would bear the modest cost of conducting the study.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that Cahokia was the largest prehistoric city north of Mexico, home to up to 20,000 people at its peak, and is already recognized as a National Historic Landmark and UNESCO World Heritage Site, making it a strong candidate for federal preservation. They contend a formal study is a low-cost, evidence-based first step that ensures any future decision about National Park status rests on rigorous evaluation of significance, feasibility, and cost.
Opponents argue
Opponents argue that special resource studies, while inexpensive individually, add to a lengthy backlog of pending National Park Service studies and commit future staff time and funding without guaranteeing a worthwhile outcome. They contend that Congress should prioritize maintenance and funding for existing park units, some of which face significant deferred maintenance backlogs, rather than authorizing new studies that could lead to additional federal land management obligations.
Constitutional context
This bill raises no constitutional question beyond Congress's Article I authority to spend for the general welfare and its established authority to establish and manage federal lands, including national parks, under the Property Clause (Art. IV, §3, cl. 2).
Checks and balances
Congress directs and funds the study while the Secretary of the Interior (executive branch) conducts it and reports back, with Congress retaining authority to decide whether to later authorize park designation.
Historical precedent
Congress has directed numerous similar special resource studies under section 100507 of title 54 as a standard preliminary step before considering National Park System designations.