Bill · S. 2887· Senate(119-S-2887)
Route 66 National Historic Trail Designation Act
- Introduced
- 9/18/2025
- Last activity
- 9/17/2026 — Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 644.
- Sponsored by
- Ted Cruz
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 4
- Introduced
- On Calendar
What this bill would do
This bill amends the National Trails System Act to formally designate the Route 66 National Historic Trail. The trail spans approximately 2,400 miles from Chicago, Illinois, to Santa Monica, California, including all U.S. Highway 66 alignments in existence between 1926 and 1985. The Secretary of the Interior is tasked with administering the trail while respecting its idiosyncratic nature. The legislation explicitly protects private property rights by prohibiting the use of eminent domain or condemnation. Additionally, the bill ensures that the trail designation does not create buffer zones, hinder energy development, or require new federal permits.
Yes· 3 of 10
Would business owners be better off under this?+3
Business owners along Route 66 benefit from the increased visibility and tourism that comes with the official designation.
Would Native Americans be better off under this?+3
The bill mandates active, meaningful, and timely consultation with affected Indian Tribes regarding activities with substantial direct impacts.
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?+3
Provides economic opportunities via tourism while protecting rural property rights and energy interests.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Tribal Consultation Protections: Under Section 2, adding subsection (C)(ii), the Secretary of the Interior is required to conduct active, meaningful, and timely consultation with all affected Indian Tribes prior to undertaking any trail-related activity that would have substantial direct impacts on them. This ensures tribal governments have a voice in decisions affecting their communities.
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Protection of Private Property: Under Section 2, adding subsection (D), the United States is prohibited from acquiring land outside a federally managed area without the owner's consent. Furthermore, subsection (G) explicitly states that the Secretary of the Interior may not use eminent domain or condemnation to carry out the trail designation, which protects private landowners from having their property forcefully taken.
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Protection of Energy Operations: Under Section 2, adding subsection (F), the bill states that nothing in the paragraph, land acquisitions, or management plans shall prohibit, hinder, or disrupt the development, production, transportation, or transmission of energy. This protects energy workers and the energy sector from operational disruptions.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
Based on the provided text, there are no specific sections or provisions identified that create negative consequences or burdens for individuals or groups of people in the United States.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Business Owners+3Good For Native Americans+3Good For Rural Residents+3Good For Farmers+1
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Small Business Support+2Improves Economic Growth+1Increases Job Creation+1
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Rural Development+2Improves Public Land Management+1
- Governance And Ideology
- Increase States Rights+1
- 9/17/2026
- Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Lee without amendment. Without written report.
- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 644.
- 7/29/2026
- Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
- 7/21/2026
- Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held.
- 4/28/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/18/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- 4 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
2 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Tammy DuckworthDemocrat · Illinois
Mark KellyDemocrat · Arizona
Ben LujánDemocrat · New Mexico
Alex PadillaDemocrat · California
Eric SchmittRepublican · Missouri