At the White House on Friday morning, H.R. 3085, the Trail of Tears Study Act, was signed into law by President George Bush.
The bill, authored by Congressman Zach Wamp, directs the National Park Service to complete the criteria necessary to move forward in expanding the current Trail of Tears to include additional routes used when the Cherokee were forced out of their ancestral homelands.
"Today the President has shown his commitment to the completeness, objectiveness and accuracy of our nation's rich history," Congressman Wamp said. "The Trail of Tears Study Act is necessary because the human side of the Cherokee removal still must be told. "This development coupled with others, such as Moccasin Bend being added to the National Park Service and even a movie about the Trail of Tears coming out of Hollywood, will show the character and the courage of the Cherokee."
He said, "When the original Trail was designated, two main arteries - the Benge and Bell routes - were missing, as well as many water routes and emigration depots. The additional components, sought by H.R. 3085 would allow all Americans to see where the original Cherokee villages lay and will enhance public understanding of that important piece of American history."
The proposed additions have been documented by National Park Service historians, military journals, and newspaper accounts, he stated.
"It is extremely meaningful to have the President of the United States sign this bill into Public Law," Rep. Wamp said. "We have been working for a long time to achieve this goal."