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Cahokia Mounds Mississippian Culture Study Act
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.
Summary
- Authorizes 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.
- Requires the study to evaluate the national significance of the study area and determine the suitability and feasibility of designating it as a National Park System unit.
- Requires the study to consider alternatives for preservation and protection by Federal, State, local, private, and nonprofit entities.
- Requires consultation with relevant Federal, State, and local government entities, applicable Indian Tribes, private and nonprofit organizations, and interested individuals.
- Requires the study to identify cost estimates for Federal acquisition, development, interpretation, operation, and maintenance of the study area.
- Requires the Secretary to submit a report to Congress within 3 years containing the results, conclusions, and recommendations of the study.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
1 cosponsor
- Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL] (D-IL)
Money behind the sponsor
Top reported contributors to Richard J. Durbin’s campaign committee (2024 cycle) — who funds the bill’s sponsor, not a claim about this bill. Data from FEC.
- SIMMONS HANLY CONROY LLC $19,133
- THE GORI LAW FIRM $18,300
- CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES PC $17,750
- POWER ROGERS & SMITH LLP $17,300
- MAUNE RAICHLE HARTLEY FRENCH & MUDD $14,638
Organizations whose employees gave the most — itemized individual contributions grouped by the donor’s reported employer (FEC Schedule A). Full finance for Richard J. Durbin → · Outside spending →
Actions (5)
- Jul 23, 2026 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 478. · senate
- Jul 23, 2026 Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Lee with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report. · senate
- Feb 4, 2026 Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably. · senate
- Apr 29, 2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text: CR S2668) · senate
- Apr 29, 2025 Introduced in Senate
More bills on these subjects (8)
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Similar bills (6)
Bills with similar text or summary — includes reintroductions across Congresses. Ranked by semantic similarity of the bill text (computed locally); a neutral discovery aid, not a claim the bills are duplicates.
Text versions (2)
Bills are re-published as they move (Introduced → Reported → Engrossed → Enrolled …). Each stage below is a separate text; pick two to see what changed. Data from Congress.gov.
Committee action
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Meetings where this bill was on the agenda
Full text
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
July 23, 2026
Reported by Mr. Lee, with an amendment [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic]
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.
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Cahokia Mounds Mississippian Culture Study Act”.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Indian tribe.—The term “Indian Tribe” has the meaning given the term “Indian tribe” in section 102 of the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 5130).
(2) Secretary.—The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Interior.
(3) 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. 3. 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) applicable Indian Tribes;
(C) private and nonprofit organizations; or
(D) 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. Calendar No. 478
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 1516
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.
July 23, 2026
Reported with an amendment
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