Route 66 National Historic Trail Designation Act

Ted Cruz

Republican · TX · Senator

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

• Alex Padilla (D-CA)Original· 2025-09-18
• Eric Schmitt (R-MO)Original· 2025-09-18
• Mark Kelly (D-AZ)Original· 2025-09-18
• Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)Original· 2025-09-18
• Ben Ray Luján (D-NM)· 2026-04-28

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

2026-07-29

Source: Congress.gov

This bill would officially designate Route 66 as a National Historic Trail, giving it the same federal protection and recognition as other historic trails across the country. The designation would help preserve the historic highway's cultural significance, support tourism and local economies along the route, and make it easier for the federal government to coordinate preservation efforts with states and communities that the road passes through.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 2887 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 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.''. <all>

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