Mr. Speaker, I am so pleased that the U.S. House of Representatives is considering H.R. 3085, the Trail of Tears Documentation Act, which I introduced last year with my friend, Representative Zach Wamp. This important legislation has 20 cosponsors from 8 different states and works to preserve an important chapter of our history so others can learn from our past.
The lessons that lie along the Trail of Tears are more than a chapter in a history book. They are the lessons that teach future generations to celebrate diversity rather than to push it into the farthest corners of our country. Only by experiencing this tragedy can we begin to understand why so many Native Americans died along this trail.
The Trail of Tears Documentation Act would encourage the Secretary of the Interior to complete the National Historic Trail of Tears from North Carolina to Oklahoma. The proposed routes include two trails in Arkansas where close to 2,000 Cherokee traveled after the U.S. government forced them to find new land in Indian Territory. The Bell route heads up the Arkansas River from Tennessee through Little Rock and Fort Smith, and the Benge route extends west from Randolph County to Washington County.
Our legislation asks the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a feasibility study of the additional trail segments, emigration depot, and land components currently missing along the historic trail. Once complete, individuals will be able to travel the entire length of the trail and experience interpretations of that period in American history.
It is unacceptable that such a critical part of our history remains a patchwork of missing pieces. As Americans, we need to capture this part of history so we never forget the stories of families torn apart at the hands of our country. By preserving this trail, we will give our children and grandchildren the opportunity to experience this tragedy firsthand and develop a better understanding of what happened to Native Americans in this country.
