Legislation introduced by U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and signed into law by President Donald J. Trump will expand and protect three Georgia historic sites: Ocmulgee National Monument, Fort Frederica National Monument and Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield Park.
The new law also reauthorizes funds for the state, local, and federal partnership to preserve the Augusta Canal as a National Heritage Area and promote tourism and commerce for the area.
“This new law will benefit residents and visitors across much of our state, from the Georgia coast at Fort Frederica in St. Simons to Middle Georgia where we are creating the new Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park in Macon, to the Central Savannah River Area’s Augusta Canal, and further north at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park,” said Isakson.
Isakson’s bills were part of a public lands legislative package, S.47, which passed by overwhelming bipartisan margins in the Senate and U.S. House. The legislation also includes a measure Isakson has long supported to permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
One of the pieces of legislation — the Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park Boundary Adjustment Act (S.87)– would add eight acres of land to the Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park. The expansion would include the historic Wallis House and Harriston Hill. The legislation also authorizes the National Park Service to acquire land from willing landowners by donation, purchase or exchange. Companion legislation was introduced in the U.S. House by Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.-11).
The Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park Boundary Revision Act (S.88) would designate Ocmulgee National Monument in Macon as a national historical park and expand its boundaries from approximately 700 acres to approximately 2,800 acres. It would also change the park’s name from “Ocmulgee National Monument” to “Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park.”
Companion legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Sanford Bishop, Jr. (D-Ga.-02) and cosponsored by Reps. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.-11), and Austin Scott (R-Ga.-08)
The third piece, the Fort Frederica National Monument Boundary Expansion Act (S.89), would increase the maximum number of acres that may be included in the monument, located on St. Simons Island from 250 acres to 305 acres. Due to current statute, legislation is required to expand the authorized boundary and remove the 250-acre limit established by Congress in 1958. S.89 also allows the National Park Service to acquire, by donation or purchase, the land and interests within the monument only from those willing to sell additional land for inclusion. Companion legislation was introduced in the U.S. House by Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.-01).
