John Hansen: “Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3745, introduced by the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Nussle), authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to…”

“Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3745, introduced by the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Nussle), authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to purchase two tracts of land from willing sellers for addition into the Effigy Mounds National Monument. The gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Nussle) deserves credit for crafting this legislation which protected the rights of property owners while also helping to expand the Effigy Mounds for the public enjoyment. Mr. Speaker, Effigy Mounds is located in northeastern Iowa along the Mississippi River and borders Wisconsin. Currently, the 1,481-acre Monument protects approximately 200 mound sites built by Eastern Woodland Indians from about 500 BC to 1300 AD. Although prehistoric mounds are common from the Midwest to the Atlantic Seaboard, they seldom are found in an effigy outline of mammals, birds, or reptiles. The 200 mounds, including the 29 effigy mounds, are thought to have served a variety of purposes such as territory markers, burials, or other cultural activities. H.R. 3745 authorizes the acquisition of two parcels of land from willing sellers in order to expand the boundaries of the existing monument.”