US House Approves Trail Of Tears Bill

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The US House approves a bill to expand the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail to include more routes Cherokee Indians traveled to what is now Oklahoma.<br/><br/>The legislation

Tuesday, November 14th 2006, 6:06 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The US House approves a bill to expand the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail to include more routes Cherokee Indians traveled to what is now Oklahoma.

The legislation was supported by the Oklahoma congressional delegation and now goes to President Bush for his signature.

The National Park Service trail was established almost 20 years ago, but research has shown that two key routes taken by the US military removing Cherokees in the late 1830s were omitted.

Bill sponsor Zach Wamp of Tennessee told The Oklahoman's Washington bureau that including the routes is important for historical accuracy and for the Cherokee Nation.

Under the bill, the secretary of interior must conduct a study of the proposed additions to the trails.

If they're deemed suitable, they would be added.