Benton Mackaye National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act of 2026

Floor Speech

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Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (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, as amended.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 2768

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 2026''. SEC. 2. 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 2 years 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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Mr. WESTERMAN. 2786.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2768, the Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act of 2026, sponsored by Representative Fleischmann.

Named after the American forester who envisioned the Appalachian Trail, the Benton MacKaye Trail, or BMT for short, is a roughly 280- mile backcountry trail that extends across Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina.

Beginning at Springer Mountain in northern Georgia, the BMT crosses several national forests and ultimately connects with the Appalachian Trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Approximately 95 percent of the trail is on land managed by the Forest Service or the National Park Service.

H.R. 2768 authorizes a study to evaluate the feasibility of designating the BMT as a National Scenic Trail. There are currently 11 National Scenic Trails across the country. These routes generally extend 100 miles or more, are primarily nonmotorized, and offer exceptional recreational opportunities. This legislation will evaluate the BMT to ensure that it meets the criteria for designation as a National Scenic Trail before any designation is made. Importantly, this bill will not add any land to the Federal estate, and any designation of the BMT would require a separate act of Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague Representative Fleischmann for his bipartisan work on this effort. I urge my colleagues to support H.R.
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Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, once again, I commend Representative Fleischmann and Representative Cohen for their leadership on behalf of Mr. Fleischmann's constituents. This legislation initiates an important process to evaluate a prominent trail in the South for potential designation as a National Scenic Trail.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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