Sen. Ossoff Passes Bipartisan Amendment to Encourage Further Federal Protection of the Okefenokee

Washington, D.C.— U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff brought Republicans and Democrats together to help protect the Okefenokee for generations to come.
Sen. Ossoff recently passed an amendment through the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee to encourage greater expanded protection of the Okefenokee Swamp.
Sen. Ossoff’s amendment, passed through the U.S. Senate Appropriations Interior funding bill with bipartisan support, encourages the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to acquire lands within the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge’s boundaries, which would expand hunting, fishing and recreation access and help reduce fire risk in the Refuge and nearby communities.
The funding bill is now ready to advance to the floor and must pass the full Senate and U.S. House to become law.
“The Okefenokee is an irreplaceable natural treasure,”Sen. Ossoff said.“That’s why I brought Republicans and Democrats to continue my efforts aimed at protecting Georgia’s beloved Okefenokee Swamp for generations to come.”
Sen. Ossoff continues his years-long advocacy to protect the Okefenokee.
In June, Sen. Ossoffwelcomedthe announcement of a land acquisition deal in which The Conservation Fund will purchase roughly 8,000 acres from Twin Pines Minerals, as well as the underlying mineral rights — effectively halting the proposed titanium mine near the swamp.
In May, Sen. Ossoff pressed the Trump Administration’s U.S. Department of the Interior in a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing,securing a public commitmentfrom Interior Secretary Doug Burgum that no part of the Okefenokee would be sold.
In January 2025, following Sen. Ossoff’spush,the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced it wouldexpandthe Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge’s acquisition boundary by 22,000 acres.
In December 2024, following U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff’s bipartisan push, the U.S. Department of the Interiorannouncedthat it would nominate the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge for the UNESCO World Heritage List.
In April 2024, Sen. Ossoffsubmittedformal public comments to Georgia’s Environmental Protection Division opposing mining permits near the Okefenokee, citing the threat of “irreversible damage” to the swamp and surrounding ecosystem.
Please find below the text of Sen. Ossoff’s amendment as passed in the Senate Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Funding Bill:
Amendment by Senator Ossoff (regarding Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge)
On page 12 of the report, after the paragraph titled “Fish and Wildlife Service”, insert the following:
“Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. — The Committee encourages the Service to acquire lands within the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge’s boundaries, which will expand hunting, fishing, and recreation access and help reduce fire risk in the Refuge and nearby communities.”
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