Senator Jon Ossoff expressed “cautiously optimistic” hopes on Monday that a bipartisan bill to designate Ocmulgee Mounds as Georgia’s first national park will move forward. Speaking at the Macon Rotary Club, Ossoff said he expects the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources to revisit the proposal soon.
“I think we still have the wind in our sails this year,” Ossoff said. “In fact, I think it’s likely that the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources will hold a hearing to consider, once again, this proposal in the weeks to come, and building on the momentum that we gathered last Congress, I’m cautiously optimistic we can make yet more progress.”
The legislation had previously stalled when Congress shifted its focus to Hurricane Helene relief funding last year. Seth Clark, Macon’s mayor pro tem and executive director for Ocmulgee National Park and Preserve Initiative, explained that public lands legislation was delayed for other urgent matters.
Last year, both chambers of Congress introduced bills seeking national park status for Ocmulgee Mounds. The Senate committee passed the measure then but it did not advance further. In March of this year, lawmakers reintroduced similar bills; by May nearly all of Georgia’s House delegation supported it along with both senators.
Ossoff is leading efforts alongside Representative Austin Scott in what has become a bipartisan initiative. He highlighted benefits such as securing important natural and historic resources while boosting local tourism and economic opportunities.
“It is a significant legislative undertaking, but we’ve made more progress in the last few years than we’ve seen in quite a while, so I remain optimistic and committed to trying to get it done,” Ossoff said.
Supporters argue that making Ocmulgee Mounds a national park would help preserve wildlife habitats and address environmental concerns. A study commissioned by the National Parks Conservation Association found that national park designation could also increase tourism for the area.
Reporter Alba Rosa contributed to this story.
This story was originally published September 23, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
