Route 66 National Historic Trail Designation Act
Sponsored By: Representative LaHood
Introduced
Summary
This bill would designate the Route 66 National Historic Trail and set rules for how it is managed, what land can be acquired, and how tribes are consulted. It outlines the trail as roughly 2,400 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica and places administration with the National Park Service while protecting the route's historic character and local uses.
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- Tribal governments: Requires active, meaningful, and timely consultation with affected Indian Tribes before any action that would have substantial direct impacts on them.
- Private landowners and local communities: Bars the United States from acquiring land for the trail without owner consent, limits acquisitions to about one-quarter of a mile on average on either side of the trail, and forbids use of eminent domain for the trail.
- Energy and infrastructure interests: States the designation does not block current or future energy development, pipelines, or require new energy permits, and says no buffer zones outside the trail will be created.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
New Route 66 national trail
If enacted, this would create the Route 66 National Historic Trail. It would cover all Route 66 paths used from 1926 to 1985, about 2,400 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica. The National Park Service would manage it and keep an official map on file. The Secretary of the Interior would have to consult affected Indian Tribes before actions that would directly and substantially affect them.
Property and energy rules near Route 66
If enacted, the government could not buy land for the trail outside federal areas without the owner’s OK, and could not use eminent domain. Any trail land could not average more than one-quarter mile on each side of the route. The bill would not create buffer zones or add new federal permits just because of the trail. Energy projects—pipelines, power lines, and renewables—could keep moving under existing laws. Agencies could still grant easements and rights-of-way, and the trail would not be treated as National Park System land for certain mineral leasing rules.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
LaHood
IL • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3]
NM • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2]
IL • D
Sponsored 3/17/2026
Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3]
KS • D
Sponsored 3/24/2026
Schmidt
KS • R
Sponsored 3/24/2026
Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4]
IL • D
Sponsored 3/26/2026
Budzinski
IL • D
Sponsored 4/15/2026
Casten
IL • D
Sponsored 4/16/2026
Hern (OK)
OK • R
Sponsored 4/20/2026
Rep. Wagner, Ann [R-MO-2]
MO • R
Sponsored 4/27/2026
Davis (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 4/28/2026
Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36]
CA • D
Sponsored 5/7/2026
Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
IL • D
Sponsored 5/7/2026
Rep. Stanton, Greg [D-AZ-4]
AZ • D
Sponsored 5/12/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov