[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2887 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2887
To amend the National Trails System Act to designate the Route 66
National Historic Trail, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 18 (legislative day, September 16), 2025
Mr. Cruz (for himself, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Schmitt, and Mr.
Kelly) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred
to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the National Trails System Act to designate the Route 66
National Historic Trail, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Route 66 National Historic Trail
Designation Act''.
SEC. 2. DESIGNATION OF THE ROUTE 66 NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL.
Section 5(a) of the National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 1244(a))
is amended--
(1) by redesignating the second paragraph (31) (relating to
the Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail) as paragraph
(32); and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(33) Route 66 national historic trail.--
``(A) In general.--The Route 66 National Historic
Trail, a trail that includes all the alignments of U.S.
Highway 66 in existence between 1926 and 1985,
extending along a route of approximately 2,400 miles
from Chicago, Illinois, to Santa Monica, California, as
generally depicted on the map entitled `Route 66
National Historic Trail, Proposed Route', numbered P26/
141,279, and dated December 2017.
``(B) Availability of map.--The map described in
subparagraph (A) shall be on file and available for
public inspection at the Department of the Interior.
``(C) Administration.--
``(i) In general.--The Secretary of the
Interior shall administer the Route 66 National
Historic Trail in a manner that respects and
maintains the idiosyncratic nature of the Route
66 National Historic Trail.
``(ii) Tribal consultation.--Consistent
with Executive Order 13175 (25 U.S.C. 5301
note; relating to consultation and coordination
with Indian Tribal governments) and all other
applicable Federal law, the Secretary of the
Interior shall conduct active, meaningful, and
timely consultation with all affected Indian
Tribes prior to undertaking an activity with
respect to the Route 66 National Historic Trail
that would have substantial direct impacts on 1
or more Indian Tribes.
``(D) Land acquisition.--The United States shall
not acquire for the Route 66 National Historic Trail
any land or interest in land that--
``(i) is located outside the exterior
boundary of any federally managed area without
the consent of the owner of the land or
interest in land; or
``(ii) extends more than an average of \1/
4\ of a mile on either side of the Route 66
National Historic Trail.
``(E) No buffer zone created.--
``(i) In general.--Nothing in this
paragraph, the acquisition of land or an
interest in land authorized by this paragraph,
or any management plan for the Route 66
National Historic Trail creates or shall be
construed to create a buffer zone outside the
Route 66 National Historic Trail.
``(ii) Outside activities.--The fact that
an activity or use on land outside the Route 66
National Historic Trail can be seen, heard, or
detected from the Route 66 National Historic
Trail, including from any land or interest in
land acquired for the Route 66 National
Historic Trail subject to the limitations
described in subparagraph (D), shall not
preclude, limit, control, regulate, or
determine the conduct or management of the
activity or use.
``(F) Effect on energy development, production,
transportation, or transmission.--Nothing in this
paragraph, the acquisition of land or an interest in
land authorized by this paragraph, or any management
plan for the Route 66 National Historic Trail shall
prohibit, hinder, or disrupt the development,
production, transportation, or transmission of energy.
``(G) No eminent domain or condemnation.--In
carrying out this paragraph, the Secretary of the
Interior may not use eminent domain or condemnation.
``(H) Not a designation of `lands in the national
park system'.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, the designation of the Route 66 National Historic
Trail by this paragraph shall not have the effect of
designating the Route 66 National Historic Trail or any
land on which the Route 66 National Historic Trail is
located as `lands in the National Park System' for
purposes of section 28(b)(1) of the Mineral Leasing Act
(30 U.S.C. 185(b)(1)).
``(I) No new authorities or permits.--
``(i) No effect on authority to grant
easements or rights-of-way.--
``(I) In general.--Notwithstanding
any other provision of law, the
designation of the Route 66 National
Historic Trail by this paragraph shall
not alter or affect the existing
authority of any Federal, State, or
local agency or official to grant
easements or rights-of-way over, under,
across, or along any portion of the
area designated as the Route 66
National Historic Trail.
``(II) Authority of heads of
federal agencies to grants easements or
rights-of-way.--Notwithstanding the
designation of the Route 66 National
Historic Trail by this paragraph, the
head of any Federal agency having
jurisdiction over any Federal land on
which the Route 66 National Historic
Trail designated by this paragraph is
located (other than land that is
considered to be `lands in the National
Park System' for purposes of section
28(b)(1) of the Mineral Leasing Act (30
U.S.C. 185(b)(1)) as a result of a
designation under any other law), shall
have the authority to grant easements
or rights-of-way over, under, across,
or along any applicable portion of the
Route 66 National Historic Trail in
accordance with the laws applicable to
the Federal land.
``(ii) No new permits required.--
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the
designation of the Route 66 National Historic
Trail by this paragraph shall not subject the
Route 66 National Historic Trail or any land on
which the Route 66 National Historic Trail is
located to any other Federal laws (including
regulations) requiring a Federal permit or
authorization that would otherwise be made
applicable as a result of the designation of
the Route 66 National Historic Trail as a
component of the National Trails System.''.
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