Continental Divide National Scenic Trail Completion Act

Martin Heinrich

Democrat · NM · Senator

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

• Steve Daines (R-MT)Original· 2025-04-10
• Ben Ray Luján (D-NM)· 2026-03-11
• Tim Sheehy (R-MT)· 2026-03-11

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 477.

2026-07-23

Source: Congress.gov

Continental Divide National Scenic Trail Completion Act This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of the Interior to seek to complete the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail no later than 10 years after the enactment of this bill. USDA and Interior must establish a joint Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management trail completion team to work in coordination with the administrator of the trail to facilitate its completion and optimization. USDA must complete a comprehensive development plan for the trail within three years. USDA and Interior must also seek to enter into agreements with volunteer and nonprofit organizations to facilitate the completion and administration of the trail.

Plain-English rewrite of the Congressional Research Service summary published on Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 1470 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1470 To require the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to prioritize the completion of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 10, 2025 Mr. Heinrich (for himself and Mr. Daines) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To require the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to prioritize the completion of the Continental Divide National Scenic 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 ``Continental Divide National Scenic Trail Completion Act''. SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: (1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Agriculture. (2) Trail.--The term ``Trail'' means the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. (3) Trail completion team.--The term ``Trail Completion Team'' means the joint Forest Service-Bureau of Land Management Trail completion team established under section 4(a). SEC. 3. COMPLETION OF CONTINENTAL DIVIDE NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL. Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary and the Secretary of the Interior shall seek to complete the Trail as a continuous route not later than 10 years after the date of enactment of this Act. SEC. 4. TRAIL COMPLETION TEAM. (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary and the Secretary of the Interior shall establish a joint Forest Service-Bureau of Land Management Trail completion team to work in coordination with the administrator of the Trail-- (1) to facilitate the completion and optimization of the Trail, consistent with the purposes of the Trail; and (2) to assist in the development of the comprehensive development plan for the Trail under section 5. (b) Consultation.--As appropriate, the Trail Completion Team shall consult with other Federal agencies, affected State, Tribal, and local governments, landowners, affected land-grant mercedes owners and users, acequias, and other interested parties in-- (1) the completion and optimization of the Trail; and (2) the development and completion of the comprehensive development plan for the Trail under section 5. SEC. 5. COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL. (a) In General.--Not later than 3 years after the date of establishment of the Trail Completion Team under section 4(a), the Secretary shall complete a comprehensive development plan for the Trail. (b) Plan Inclusions.--The comprehensive development plan under subsection (a) shall-- (1) identify any gaps in the Trail for which the Secretary and the Secretary of the Interior have not been able to acquire land; (2) identify opportunities for the use of easements acquired from willing sellers to facilitate completion of the Trail; and (3) include general and site-specific Trail development plans, including anticipated costs of the plans. SEC. 6. PARTNERSHIPS. The Secretary and the Secretary of the Interior shall seek to enter into agreements with volunteer and nonprofit organizations, as appropriate, to facilitate the completion and administration of the Trail. SEC. 7. EFFECT. Nothing in this Act-- (1) provides any authority to acquire land or interests in land for inclusion in the Trail beyond the authorities provided for the Trail in the National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 1241 et seq.), including acquisition by eminent domain; or (2) makes the acquisition of land or interests in land for the Trail a priority over other land acquisition authorizations.…

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