Nick Rahall: “Moccasin Bend is an area near Chattanooga, Tennessee, where archeologists have unearthed evidence of Native American…”

“Moccasin Bend is an area near Chattanooga, Tennessee, where archeologists have unearthed evidence of Native American inhabitants dating back thousands of years, mingled with important artifacts from the Civil War. In fact, this area is thought to be one of the most important Native American sites within any American city. Yet, Moccasin Bend enjoys no uniform protection. The area is home to a number of uses that are inconsistent with providing the area and its artifacts the protection they deserve. H.R. 980 will be an important step in changing this. The legislation will designate a major portion of Moccasin Bend as a national historic park, to be managed and preserved by the National Park Service. Once fully established, future generations will be able to visit this new unit and explore firsthand thousands of years of history. It should be noted that passage of H.R. 980 does not mean that there is no more to be done at Moccasin Bend.”