H.R. 6944: Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie Expansion Act of 2008

110th Congress · introduced 2008-09-18 · Public Lands and Natural Resources · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Readiness.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2008-09-18 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Weller, Jerry [R-IL-11] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on Readiness. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie Expansion Act of 2008

Plain summary

Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie Expansion Act of 2008 - Transfers administrative jurisdiction over the Joliet Training Area (JTA) from the Secretary of the Army to the Secretary of Agriculture. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to convey a specified parcel of land to Will County, Illinois. Requires the deed for such land to contain restrictive covenants enforceable by such Secretary for the benefit of the appurtenant federal lands and the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie. Requires the conveyed lands to only be used for: (1) parks and recreation; (2) firing ranges for small arms; (3) office and training facilities for fire fighters, police, and emergency personnel; (4) public safety facilities (but not for incarceration); and (5) offices for county and municipal governments. Prohibits the use of such lands for industrial or commercial purposes. Provides for environmental remediation of the lands conveyed to the county. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to convey to CenterPoint Properties, LLC, an easement to specified lands to permit the construction of roads and railroads for access to appurtenant properties. Provides for certain cash payments. Requires the Secretary of the Army to provide a preliminary assessment/site inspection to the Secretary of Agriculture for the lands comprising the JTA and to develop plans for remediation of the recognized environmental conditions identified by the preliminary assessment/site inspection.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie Expansion Act of 2008

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

AI explanation – may be wrong, check the official text

No AI explanation yet. It takes up to a minute to write and is then saved for everyone.

Limited to a few requests an hour per person.

The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Arguments against (opponents)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Alternatives

Needs sources: no published alternatives yet (for example a different bill, a law instead of an amendment, or keeping current law). We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Weller, Jerry [R-IL-11] · 0 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (1)

Jurisdiction: The area or the matters a government or court has authority over.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-110hr6944.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/110/hr>

Record fed-us-cong110-hr6944 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong110 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong110