# 119-s-1376: Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act of 2025

119-s-1376, Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC] (R-NC); status in_committee (as of 2026-07-29).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1376
- As of: 2026-07-29
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-1376
- Congress: 119
- Title: Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act of 2025
- Status: in_committee
- Introduced: 2025-04-09
- Sponsor: Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC] (R-NC)
- Cosponsors: 4
- Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-07-29

## Summary

**Requires a feasibility study to consider designating the Benton MacKaye Trail as a National Scenic Trail.** The bill would add the Benton MacKaye Trail to the National Trails System Act and direct the Secretary of Agriculture to complete and submit a feasibility study within one year, consulting with interested organizations including the Benton MacKaye Trail Association. The Benton MacKaye Trail is a scenic, nonmotorized route of about 287 miles across Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina. It runs from Springer Mountain in Georgia through Tennessee to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina. About 95 percent of the trail is on Federal land and it has been managed by the Benton MacKaye Trail Association since 1980. The route passes through six designated Wilderness Areas and multiple national forests and supports outdoor recreation and local spending in rural communities.

## Cosponsors (4)

- Sen. Warnock, Raphael G. [D-GA] (D-GA), 2025-04-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC] (R-NC), 2025-04-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Ossoff, Jon [D-GA] (D-GA), 2025-09-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN] (R-TN), 2026-03-18T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Federal study on Benton MacKaye Trail: benefit, medium. If enacted, the bill would require the Secretary of Agriculture to study making the Benton MacKaye Trail a National Scenic Trail. The trail runs about 287 miles through Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina and is nonmotorized. The Secretary must consult groups, including the Benton MacKaye Trail…

## Related bills

- 119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-s-4744: Take Care of America’s Veterans Act
- 119-s-1241: Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025
- 119-s-1919: Buying American Cotton Act of 2025
- 119-s-752: Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act
- 119-s-475: Alternatives to PAIN Act

## Sources
- [119-s-1376 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1376)

## Related
- [119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5066)
- [119-s-4744: Take Care of America’s Veterans Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4744)
- [119-s-1241: Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1241)
- [119-s-1919: Buying American Cotton Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1919)
- [119-s-752: Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-752)
- [119-s-475: Alternatives to PAIN Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-475)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1376 (as of 2026-07-29).