H.R. 5470

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5470 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5470

To amend the National Trails System Act to designate the Route 66 
National Historic Trail, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 18, 2025

Mr. LaHood (for himself and Ms. Leger Fernandez) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 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,

SEC. 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Route 66 National Historic Trail 
Designation Act''.

SEC. 2. DESIGNATION OF 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 
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 in the appropriate offices of the 
National Park Service, Department of the Interior.
``(C) Administration.--
``(i) In general.--The Route 66 National 
Historic Trail shall be administered by the 
Secretary of the Interior, acting through the 
Director of the National Park Service. Such 
administration shall be conducted 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 may not 
acquire for the Route 66 National Historic Trail any 
land or interest in land--
``(i) outside the exterior boundary of any 
federally managed area without the consent of 
the owner of the land or interest in land; or
``(ii) that extends more than an average of 
one-quarter of a mile on either side of the 
trail.
``(E) No buffer zone created.--Nothing in this Act, 
the acquisition of the land or an interest in land 
authorized by this Act, or the management plan for the 
Route 66 National Historic Trail shall be construed to 
create buffer zones outside of the Trail. That 
activities or uses can be seen, heard, or detected from 
the acquired land shall not preclude, limit, control, 
regulate, or determine the conduct or management of 
activities or uses outside of the trail.
``(F) Energy.--Nothing in this Act, the acquisition 
of land or an interest in land authorized by this Act, 
or the management plan for the Route 66 National 
Historic Trail shall prohibit, hinder, or disrupt the 
current or future development, production, 
transportation, or transmission of energy, including 
the construction or maintenance of pipelines, renewable 
energy projects, or other infrastructure for the 
development, production, transportation, or 
transmission of energy.
``(G) Eminent domain or condemnation.--In carrying 
out this Act, 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 permit.--
``(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>