PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Referred to the Subcommittee on Readiness.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in House · Sep 18, 2008
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.
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
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.
People & committees
Rep. Weller, Jerry [R-IL-11] · R–IL
Legislative record
A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Readiness.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials.
Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.
No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.
Source last updated: Aug 14, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
AI Conversation Starters
Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.
Analyze H.R.6944 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.
Examine H.R.6944 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.
Examine H.R.6944 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.
Examine H.R.6944 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.