The National Fossil Act to name the mastodon America’s fossil passes Senate

The National Fossil Act has now passed the Senate. This bill names the mastodon as the U.S. national fossil, and was introduced by Senator Mike Braun and Senator Gary Peters and cosponsored by Senator Eric Schmitt and Senator Maggie Hassan.

This is Senator Braun’s 5^th standalone bill to pass the Senate just this year, and if signed into law will be his 10^th in the 118^th Congress (2023-2024) to become law, including provisions on veterans healthcare, opioids, and budget reform.

The National Fossil Act aims to celebrate the unique natural history of the United States, and encourage interest in paleontology.

If the National Fossil Act is passed by the House and signed into law, the mastodon would join the bald eagle, bison, rose, and oak tree as enduring national symbols of the United States.

The mastodon lived more than 13,000 years ago in the Pleistocene era, predominantly on land that would eventually become the United States of America. A fully grown mastodon was over 10 feet tall, weighed more than 11 tons, and was preceded by a pair of 16-foot-long tusks. Unlike its distant cousin, the mammoth, the mastodon was found exclusively in the United States, with its bones being unearthed in every state across the continental U.S.

Mastodon fossils are frequently found in Indiana and Michigan.

The mastodon was made the Indiana state fossil in 2022.

Mastodons have been found in nearly every Indiana county, including notable discoveries in Hebron, Fort Wayne, and Seymour.

“Mastodons embody the spirit of exploration, resilience, and strength that exemplifies our great nation. As a uniquely American symbol, mastodons inspire us to embrace our heritage and to protect our country’s natural treasures. I hope making Indiana’s state fossil our national fossil will inspire young Hoosiers to take an interest in our country’s rich natural history that may be in their own backyard.” – Senator Mike Braun

“Michigan made history when we uncovered one of the most complete skeletons of the Mastodon ever found, and we continue to find traces of this prehistoric giant all throughout our state,” said Senator Peters. “The Mastodon represents a unique piece of both Michigan’s and our nation’s history. By establishing the Mastodon as our national fossil, we can better preserve that history and inspire a new generation of scientists and researchers to continue their pursuit of discovery.”

The National Fossil Act:

• Section 1 designates the bill as the National Fossil Act.
• Section 2 establishes findings on the role of the Mastodon in American public life.
• Section 3 designates the Mastodon as the national fossil under Title 36 U.S. Code, and makes necessary conforming amendments.

Senator Braun’s legislative wins this Congress:

As mentioned, this is Senator Braun’s 5^th standalone bill to pass the Senate just this year, and if signed into law will be his 10^th bill in the 118^th Congress (2023-2024) to become law.

Some other Braun bills to become law or pass Senate in the 118^th Congress (2023-2024) are:

           (Became Law) The Federal Prison Oversight Act

• A bill to provide independent oversight to improve conditions for staff and prisoners in federal prisons like Terre Haute. 

(Became Law) COVID-19 Origins Act

• A bill that required the intelligence community to declassify important information about the origins of COVID, specifically the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

(Became Law) The Wounded Warrior Access Act

• A bill that streamlines the claims process for veterans with a new online tool, helping those who previously had to get their claims information through the mail or by driving to a regional VA location.

(Became Law) Department of Defense Overdose Data (DOD) Act

• A bill to ensure naloxone and any other medication to reverse opioid overdose is available on all military installations and in each operational environment.

(Became Law) Reforming Benefits for Children of Vietnam Veterans with Spina Bifida

• A bill to help the children of Vietnam Veterans suffering from spina bifida due to their father’s exposure to Agent Orange get access to medical benefits for the rest of their lives

(Became Law) Administrative Pay-As-You-Go Act

• A bill which requires agencies to propose pay-fors to offset expensive government regulations.

           (Passed Senate) VA Home Loan Awareness Act

• A bill to inform veteran homebuyers of their eligibility for the VA Home Loan Program, which helps more veterans achieve the dream of homeownership.

(Passed Senate) Working Dog Health and Welfare Act of 2023

• A bill to improve conditions for dogs used in the detection of explosives, narcotics and patrol duties by federal agencies, by instituting programs that detect abuse and neglect and ensure emergency medical care, food and water, and rest time.

(Passed Senate) Mark Our Place Act

• A bill to provide special headstones upon family request for all veterans who have received the Medal of Honor.

If signed into law, the National Fossil Act will join the following Braun bills signed into law:

BILLS SIGNED INTO LAW IN THE 118TH CONGRESS (2023-2024).

• Federal Prison Oversight Act
• The COVID-19 Origins Act (Public Law 118-2)
• The Administrative Pay-As-You-Go Act (included in Public Law 118-5)
• Reforming Benefits for Children of Vietnam Veterans with Spina Bifida (Public Law 118-8)
• The Wounded Warrior Access Act (Public Law 118-21)
• The Korean American VALOR Act (Public Law 118-20)
• The Department of Defense Overdose Data (DOD) Act (Public Law 118-31)
• Supporting the Provision of Veteran Survivor Benefit Plans (Public Law 118-31)
• Flexibility and Funding for the World Trade Center Health Program (Public Law 118-31)
   

BILLS SIGNED INTO LAW IN THE 117TH CONGRESS (2021 - 2022):
 

• Hire Veteran Health Heroes Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-67)
• A bill to properly implement the ALS Disability Insurance Access Act (Public Law 117-3)
• The Consider Teachers Act (Public Law No: 117-49)
• The Growing Climate Solutions Act (Public Law 117-328)
• The STREAM Act (Public Law 117-328)
• Small Business Establishment Registration Waiver Act (Public Law 117-328)
• The Make It in America Act (Public Law 117-58)
• The DUMP Opioids Act (Public Law 117-29
• Better ODDS to Reduce Diversion Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-328)
• FREED of Opioids Act (Public Law 117-328)
• The Access for Veterans to Records Act (Public Law 117-328)
• Women Who Worked on the Home Front World War II Memorial Act (Public Law 117-328)
• Apply the Science Act (Public Law 117-328)
• The Emergency Use Transparency Act (Public Law 117-328)
• The Recovery Startup Assistance Act (Public Law 117-328)
• Promoting Access to Critical Countermeasures by Ensuring Specimen Samples (ACCESS) to Diagnostics Act (Public Law 117-328)
• Predetermined Change Control Plan Act (Public Law 117-328)
• Protecting Patients from Counterfeit Medical Devices Act (Public Law 117-328)
• The PLUM Act (Public Law 117-328)

BILLS SIGNED INTO LAW IN THE 116TH CONGRESS (2019 - 2020):
 

• The Safeguarding Small Business Act
• Healthcare Transparency
• the Whistleblower Act of 2019
• the VA Directly Returning Opioid Prescriptions Act
• the Stop Student Debt Relief Scams Act of 2019
• Restore Harmony Way Bridge Act
• Richard Lugar Post Office Act
• Payment Integrity Information Act
• ALS Disability Insurance Access Act
• OTC Reform
• The Fair Care Act
• Braun Provisions in the WRDA Reauthorization in the OMNI