,,ii #aaeth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #eii ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,march #i1 #bjag,mr4 ,donnelly 7for himself and ,mr4 ,young7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,energy and ,natural ,resources ,a ,,bill ,to redesignate the ,indiana ,dunes ,national ,lakeshore as the ,indiana ,dunes ,national ,park1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,indiana ,dunes ,national ,park ,designation ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds that-- 7#a7 the ,great ,lakes form the largest freshwater system on ,earth2 7#b7 ,lake ,michigan is-- 7,a7 the second largest ,great ,lake by volume2 and 7,b7 the only ,great ,lake located wholly within the ,united ,states2 7#c7 the southern shore of ,lake ,michigan includes some of the most geologically and biologically diverse areas in the ,united ,states2 7#d7 the unique features that comprise the southern shore of ,lake ,michigan1 also known as the ,indiana ,dunes1 were formed over a period of #ab1jjj years by natural forces1 including glaciers1 wind1 and water2 7#e7 glacial melting and fluctuations in the water level resulted in the formation of as many as #g shorelines along the southern shore of ,lake ,michigan2 7#f7 the process by which the southern shore of ,lake ,michigan was formed resulted in the biologically diverse beaches1 sand dunes1 and inter-dune wetlands that can be seen in the southern shore of ,lake ,michigan today2 7#g7 ,indian tribes1 including the ,miami and ,potawatomi ,indian tribes1 inhabited the ,indiana ,dunes region for over #aj1jjj years2 7#h7 local conservation efforts to preserve the ,indiana ,dunes began as early as #ahii when ,henry ,cowles1 a botanist from the ,university of ,chicago who is known for being one of the founders of contemporary ecological study and thought1 published an article entitled ,ecological ,relations of the ,vegetation on ,sand ,dunes of ,lake ,michigan in the ,botanical ,gazette1 bringing international attention to the intricate ecosystems on the ,indiana ,dunes2 7#i7 on ,october #cj1 #aiaf1 #a month after the establishment of the ,national ,park ,service1 ,stephen ,mather1 the first ,director of the ,national ,park ,service1 held hearings in ,chicago1 ,illinois1 to gauge public sentiment on establishing a large portion of the southern shore of ,lake ,michigan as one of the first national parks in the ,united ,states1 to be known as the ,sand ,dunes ,national ,park2 7#aj7 over #djj people attended the hearings in ,chicago1 ,illinois1 of which-- 7,a7 #db people1 including ,henry ,cowles1 spoke in favor of the proposal to establish the national park2 and 7,b7 there were no opponents to the proposal to establish the national park2 7#aa7 plans for a ,sand ,dunes ,national ,park were delayed because the ,united ,states entered ,world ,war ,i and national focus shifted away from national parks to national defense2 7#ab7 local conservation efforts to preserve the ,indiana ,dunes persisted after ,world ,war ,i and culminated in-- 7,a7 the establishment of ,indiana ,dunes ,state ,park in #aibe2 and 7,b7 the enactment in #aiff of ,public ,law #hi-gfa 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #dfju et seq471 which established the ,indiana ,dunes ,national ,lakeshore2 7#ac7 the ,indiana ,dunes ,national ,lakeshore was subsequently expanded in #aigf1 #aihj1 #aihf1 and #aiib2 7#ad7 the ,indiana ,dunes ,national ,lakeshore and the adjacent ,indiana ,dunes ,state ,park are comprised of over #ae1jjj acres of dunes1 oak savannas1 swamps1 bogs1 marshes1 prairies1 rivers1 and forests that are preserved for public enjoyment1 including #ae miles of shoreline along ,lake ,michigan that extend from ,gary1 ,indiana1 to ,michigan ,city1 ,indiana2 7#ae7 the ,indiana ,dunes ,national ,lakeshore is-- 7,a7 one of the most biologically diverse units of the ,national ,park ,system1 containing #b1ccf unique species1 including #hif animal species and #a1djg plant species2 7,b7 a cherished cultural landmark that attracts millions of visitors each year2 and 7,c7 an especially important feeding and resting area for migrating land and water birds1 including #cej unique species of birds2 and 7#af7 institutions such as the ,dunes ,learning ,center-- 7,a7 attract youth and other community members to the ,indiana ,dunes2 and 7,b7 provide the youth and other community members with insight on the biodiversity and historical significance of the ,indiana ,dunes4 #c4 ,designation of ,indiana ,dunes ,national ,park 7a7 ,designation 7#a7 ,in general ,the first section of ,public ,law #hi-gfa 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #dfju7 is amended-- 7,a7 in the first sentence-- 7i7 by striking ,national ,lakeshore and inserting ,national ,park2 and 7ii7 by striking 7hereinafter referred to as the lakeshore7 and inserting 7referred to in this ,act as the ,park72 and 7,b7 in the second sentence1 by striking lakeshore and inserting ,park4 7#b7 ,conforming amendments ,sections #b through #bd of ,public ,law #hi-gfa 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #dfju-#a through #dfju-#bd7 are amended-- 7,a7 by striking ,lakeshore each place it appears and inserting ,park2 and 7,b7 by striking lakeshore each place it appears and inserting ,park4 7b7 ,references ,any reference in any law1 regulation1 document1 record1 map1 or other paper of the ,united ,states to the ,indiana ,dunes ,national ,lakeshore shall be considered to be a reference to the ,indiana ,dunes ,national ,park4