Adds the Route 66 National Historic Trail, about 2,400 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica, to the National Trails System Act and directs the Interior Department to administer it.

Official title: Route 66 National Historic Trail Designation Act

Next stop Senate floor: awaiting a vote

Timeline each lane is a chamber; dates pull from congress.gov actions

Senate

Introduced 18-SEP-2025

Referred 18-SEP-2025

Approved by committee 29-JUL-2026

Reported 17-SEP-2026

On the calendar 17-SEP-2026

Key points

Designates the trail along all alignments of U.S. Highway 66 that existed between 1926 and 1985, as shown on a map on file at the Department of the Interior.
Directs the Interior Secretary to consult with affected Indian Tribes before any trail activity that would have substantial direct impacts on them.
Bars federal acquisition of land outside federally managed areas without the owner's consent, and of land extending more than an average of one-quarter mile on either side of the trail, and prohibits eminent domain or condemnation.
States that the designation creates no buffer zone, does not restrict energy development or transmission, does not make the trail 'lands in the National Park System' under the Mineral Leasing Act, and adds no new federal permit requirements.

AI-generated from the Reported to Senate text of 17-SEP-2026 · verify · report an error

Official CRS summary

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Committee referrals (2)

Policy area

Public Lands and Natural Resources

Sponsor Ted Cruz (R-TX) Cosponsors · 5

■ 4 D■ 1 R

4 Democrats

1 Republican