News

Sen. Tim Kaine and Rep. Don Beyer among lawmakers introducing a bill to protect America’s national trails

Sen. Tim Kaine and Rep. Don Beyer among lawmakers introducing a bill to protect America’s national trails

Photo: Saga Communications/Sen. Tim Kaine


CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Virginia U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine and Virginia Rep. Don Beyer are among a group of bipartisan lawmakers that have introduced a bill that would strengthen the public-private partnerships that preserve, maintain, and manage national trails.

The Appalachian Trail Centennial Act is inspired by the National Trails System Act of 1968, which has led to the establishment and expansion of thousands of National Recreation Trails—aims to create a cooperative management tool to expand and protect national trails across the United States.

The Appalachian Trail Centennial Act is supported by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC), which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. The legislation will model the ATC’s successful framework of integrating scenic and historic trails into conservation, recreation, and education networks to preserve and expand access to the trails.

“Our national trails and outdoors are some of America’s greatest treasures and make real contributions to our communities’ well-being and the economy,” said Sen. Kaine, in a statement released by his office. “I’ve been fortunate to have the opportunity to hike much of the Appalachian Trail, and I’m proud to partner with the ATC and my colleagues to introduce bipartisan legislation to improve public-private coordination efforts to expand access to these incredible spaces and preserve them for future generations.”

Under the Appalachian Trail Centennial Act, Designated Operational Partners would enter into agreements of up to 20 years with the National Park Service (NPS) and U.S. Forest Service to care for National Scenic and Historic Trails. The legislation will also recognize the decades of dedicated service by the Appalachian Trail maintaining clubs and their volunteers.

Full text of the Senate bill is available here. A one-pager of the bill is available here.

Latest Stories

20 hours ago in Sports

Ohtani tops MLB jersey sales for 3rd straight season. Skenes and Raleigh break into top 20

Shohei Ohtani topped Major League Baseball's jersey sales for the third straight year heading into the end of the regular season as Paul Skenes and Cal Raleigh entered the top 20.

20 hours ago in Entertainment

Mikey Madison will play a Facebook whistleblower in Aaron Sorkin’s ‘Social Network’ follow-up

Aaron Sorkin is diving back into the world of Facebook with a "Social Network" follow-up featuring Jeremy Strong as Mark Zuckerberg and a newly minted Oscar winner as a whistleblower.

20 hours ago in National

Assata Shakur, a fugitive Black militant sought by the US since 1979, dies in Cuba

Assata Shakur, a Black liberation activist who was given political asylum in Cuba after her 1979 escape from a U.S. prison where she had been serving a life sentence for killing a police officer, has died, her daughter and the Cuban government said.