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House Bill 8403
118th Congress(2023-2024)
Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act of 2024
Introduced
Introduced
Introduced in House on May 15, 2024
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Introduced in House 
May 15, 2024
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Introduced in House(May 15, 2024)
May 15, 2024
Not Scanned for Linkage
About Linkage
Multiple bills can contain the same text. This could be an identical bill in the opposite chamber or a smaller bill with a section embedded in a larger bill.
Bill Sponsor regularly scans bill texts to find sections that are contained in other bill texts. When a matching section is found, the bills containing that section can be viewed by clicking "View Bills" within the bill text section.
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H. R. 8403 (Introduced-in-House)


118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8403


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

May 15, 2024

Mr. Cohen (for himself, Mr. Fleischmann, Mr. DesJarlais, Mr. Edwards, Mrs. McBath, and Ms. Williams of Georgia) 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 2024”.

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.”.