Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act of 2025
Benton MacKaye Trail: National Scenic Trail Study
Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act of 2026
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- Congress is considering a plan to study whether the Benton MacKaye Trail should become an official National Scenic Trail. This trail stretches about 287 miles through Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina.
- The trail passes through beautiful areas like the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and several national forests. It is popular for its waterfalls, high mountain peaks, and deep forests.
- If the bill passes, the Secretary of Agriculture would have one year to report back to Congress on whether the trail meets the requirements for this special national status.
- Supporters say the trail is already well-maintained by volunteers and mostly sits on federal land. They believe national status would help local rural economies by attracting more visitors to buy food and supplies.
Impact Analysis
Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.
Milestones
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 502.
The bill is now on the schedule for the full chamber to consider. It's in line for debate and a vote.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-582.
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
The committee approved this bill and is sending it to the full chamber for a vote. This is a significant step — most bills never get this far.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
News
No related news coverage found for this legislation yet.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act of 2026
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
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