Cahokia Mounds Mississippian Culture Study Act

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Bill ID: 119/s/1516
Last Updated: March 24, 2026

Sponsored by

Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]

ID: D000563

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

February 4, 2026

Introduced

Committee Review

Floor Action

📍 Current Status

Next: The full Senate will vote on whether to pass the bill.

Passed Senate

🏛️

House Review

🎉

Passed Congress

🖊️

Presidential Action

⚖️

Became Law

📚 How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Another masterpiece of bureaucratic doublespeak, courtesy of Senators Durbin and Duckworth. Let's dissect this legislative abomination, shall we?

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The Cahokia Mounds Mississippian Culture Study Act is a thinly veiled attempt to justify further federal meddling in the affairs of Illinois' historic sites. The bill's primary objective is to authorize a "special resource study" (read: expensive bureaucratic exercise) to evaluate the national significance of the Cahokia Mounds, Emerald Mounds, and Pulcher Mounds.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill empowers the Secretary of the Interior to conduct this study, which will inevitably lead to a series of recommendations for federal acquisition, development, interpretation, operation, and maintenance (read: more taxpayer dollars down the drain). The study will also consider alternatives for preservation, protection, and interpretation by various entities, because God forbid we trust local authorities to manage their own historic sites.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The usual suspects are involved: federal bureaucrats, state and local governments, private organizations, and special interest groups. Oh, and let's not forget the ancestors of the Mississippian culture, who will no doubt be thrilled to know that their heritage is being used as a pretext for more government largesse.

**Potential Impact & Implications:** This bill is a classic case of "mission creep." By authorizing this study, Congress is setting the stage for further federal intervention in Illinois' historic sites. Expect increased spending, bureaucratic red tape, and a healthy dose of cultural appropriation. The real beneficiaries will be the consultants, contractors, and lobbyists who will feast on taxpayer dollars while pretending to care about preserving America's cultural heritage.

Diagnosis: This bill suffers from a severe case of "Bureaucraticitis," a disease characterized by an insatiable appetite for taxpayer dollars, a complete disregard for local autonomy, and a bad case of historical amnesia. Treatment involves a healthy dose of skepticism, a strong stomach, and a willingness to call out the obvious lies and half-truths peddled by our esteemed lawmakers.

Prognosis: Poor. This bill will likely pass with minimal scrutiny, as most voters are too busy being distracted by the latest partisan circus to notice the slow-motion train wreck that is our legislative process. Meanwhile, the special interests will continue to feast on taxpayer dollars, and the rest of us will be left to wonder why our government can't seem to get anything right.

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💰 Campaign Finance Network

Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$73,500
15 donors
PACs
$0
Organizations
$3,500
Committees
$0
Individuals
$70,000

No PAC contributions found

1
MIAMI TRIBE OF OKLAHOMA
2 transactions
$2,500
2
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
1 transaction
$1,000

No committee contributions found

1
KUJAWSKI, JOHN
4 transactions
$17,200
2
BARKER, MARA MILLS
2 transactions
$6,600
3
CASHMAN, JAY M.
2 transactions
$6,600
4
GRANIERI, ROBERT
2 transactions
$6,600
5
ARNOLD, JOHN
2 transactions
$6,600
6
CHOWDHURY, SHUVRO
1 transaction
$3,300
7
COHN, RANDY
1 transaction
$3,300
8
MAESE, TIMOTHY
1 transaction
$3,300
9
THOMPSON, TIMOTHY
1 transaction
$3,300
10
FALLS, AMY
1 transaction
$3,300
11
ROGERS, HARTLEY
1 transaction
$3,300
12
EYCHANER, FRED
1 transaction
$3,300
13
BUEHLHORN, MICHAEL
1 transaction
$3,300

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 1 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]

ID: D000622

Top Contributors

10

1
AMERICAN EXPRESS
Organization NEWARK, NJ
$6,132
Feb 7, 2023
2
AMERICAN EXPRESS
Organization NEWARK, NJ
$605
Mar 3, 2023
3
CITIBUSINESS CARD
Organization COLUMBUS, OH
$347
Jan 10, 2023
4
CITIBUSINESS CARD
Organization COLUMBUS, OH
$254
Feb 7, 2023
5
AMERICAN EXPRESS
Organization NEWARK, NJ
$98
Jan 10, 2023
6
CITIBUSINESS CARD
Organization COLUMBUS, OH
$74
Mar 3, 2023
7
KELLY, MICHAEL
WALKUP LAW FIRM ATTORNEY
Individual SAN FRANCISCO, CA
$3,300
Oct 7, 2024
8
LISTER, AMANDA
N/A NOT EMPLOYED
Individual NEW YORK, NY
$3,300
Oct 17, 2024
9
SUMEY, ROGER
Individual ELLICOTT CITY, MD
$3,300
Oct 11, 2023
10
CHEN, QIANHUI
RENAISSANCE TECHNOLOGIES LLC ANALYST
Individual SETAUKET, NY
$3,300
Mar 2, 2024

Donor Network - Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

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Showing 19 nodes and 26 connections

Total contributions: $80,584

Top Donors - Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]

Showing top 15 donors by contribution amount

2 Orgs13 Individuals