Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act of 2026

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2768 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2768

  To amend the National Trails System Act to direct the Secretary of
 Agriculture to conduct a study on the feasibility of designating the
            Benton MacKaye Trail as a national scenic trail.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 9, 2025

Mr. Fleischmann (for himself, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Edwards, and Mrs. McBath)
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
                           Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

  To amend the National Trails System Act to direct the Secretary of
 Agriculture to conduct a study on the feasibility of designating the
            Benton MacKaye Trail as a national scenic trail.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail
Feasibility Study Act of 2025''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that the Benton MacKaye Trail--
            (1) is a scenic, nonmotorized trail that traverses
        approximately 287 miles over some of the most renowned forests
        and mountains in the States of Georgia, Tennessee, and North
        Carolina;
            (2) showcases a wide variety of scenic views, including
        high-elevation peaks, mature forests, and secluded waterfalls;
            (3) passes through wilderness that is rich with
        biodiversity;
            (4) passes through six designated Wilderness Areas, the
        Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and the Chattahoochee-
        Oconee, Cherokee, and Nantahala National Forests;
            (5) provides a wide array of easily accessible hikes for
        novice and intermediate hikers, as well as more challenging
        trails for backpacking;
            (6) supports economic opportunities for numerous rural
        communities which benefit from the visitors of the trail
        spending their money on accommodations, food, and outdoor
        supplies;
            (7) runs from Springer Mountain in Georgia, through
        Tennessee, and extends through the Great Smoky Mountains
        National Park in North Carolina;
            (8) is physically accessible; and
            (9) can be maintained at a minimal cost because--
                    (A) the Benton MacKaye Trail has been maintained at
                its current length since 2005;
                    (B) 95 percent of the Benton MacKaye Trail is
                located on Federal land; and
                    (C) the Benton MacKaye Trail has been successfully
                constructed, maintained, and managed by the Benton
                MacKaye Trail Association since 1980.

SEC. 3. BENTON MACKAYE NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL FEASIBILITY STUDY.

    Section 5(c) of the National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 1244(c))
is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(50) Benton mackaye trail.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Benton MacKaye Trail, a
                scenic, nonmotorized trail that traverses approximately
                287 miles in the States of Georgia, Tennessee, and
                North Carolina.
                    ``(B) Study.--Not later than 1 year after the date
                of the enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary of
                Agriculture, in consultation with interested
                organizations, including the Benton MacKaye Trail
                Association, shall complete and submit to Congress the
                feasibility study for designating the Benton MacKaye
                Trail as a national scenic trail.''.
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