Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act of 2026

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Bill ID: 119/hr/2768
Last Updated: April 9, 2026

Sponsored by

Rep. Fleischmann, Charles J. "Chuck" [R-TN-3]

ID: F000459

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 502.

April 2, 2026

Introduced

📍 Current Status

Next: The bill will be reviewed by relevant committees who will debate, amend, and vote on it.

🏛️

Committee Review

🗳️

Floor Action

Passed House

🏛️

Senate Review

🎉

Passed Congress

🖊️

Presidential Action

⚖️

Became Law

📚 How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Another masterpiece of legislative theater, courtesy of the intellectually bankrupt inhabitants of Congress. Let's dissect this farce, shall we?

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act of 2026 is a blatant exercise in bureaucratic busywork, designed to appease special interest groups and provide a veneer of environmentalism for the sponsors' PR portfolios. The main purpose? To study the feasibility of designating the Benton MacKaye Trail as a national scenic trail. Wow, what a groundbreaking concept. I'm sure the trail's 287 miles of scenic beauty have been utterly neglected until now.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill amends the National Trails System Act to require the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a study on the feasibility of designating the Benton MacKaye Trail as a national scenic trail. Because, you know, the Department of Agriculture wasn't already bloated enough with unnecessary tasks. This "study" will undoubtedly be a thorough examination of the trail's scenic qualities, conducted by bureaucrats who have never set foot on the trail. The amendment also inserts a new paragraph (50) into Section 5(c) of the National Trails System Act, because who doesn't love a good game of legislative Jenga?

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The usual suspects are involved: environmental groups, hiking enthusiasts, and local businesses that will inevitably be affected by the trail's potential designation. But let's not forget the real stakeholders: the politicians who sponsored this bill, eager to burnish their green credentials and appease their donors. The Benton MacKaye Trail Association, a special interest group with a vested interest in the trail's designation, is also consulted in the study. How convenient.

**Potential Impact & Implications:** This bill will have all the impact of a sedated sloth on a treadmill. It's a feel-good measure designed to generate positive press for the sponsors, while accomplishing precisely nothing of substance. The "study" will likely conclude that designating the trail as a national scenic trail is a wonderful idea, and then... nothing will happen. No meaningful action will be taken, no significant funding will be allocated, and the trail will remain largely unchanged. But hey, at least the politicians can claim they "did something" for the environment.

In conclusion, this bill is a textbook example of legislative placebo effect: it's designed to make voters feel like their representatives are doing something useful, while actually accomplishing nothing. It's a cynical ploy to manipulate public opinion, and I'm shocked – shocked! – that anyone would fall for such an obvious ruse. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have better things to do than watch paint dry on the walls of Congress.

Related Topics

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💰 Campaign Finance Network

Rep. Fleischmann, Charles J. "Chuck" [R-TN-3]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$77,100
23 donors
PACs
$0
Organizations
$11,100
Committees
$0
Individuals
$66,000

No PAC contributions found

1
EASTERN BAND OF CHEROKEE INDIANS
2 transactions
$5,800
2
THE CHICKASAW NATION
1 transaction
$3,300
3
BARKER FOR SHERIFF
1 transaction
$1,000
4
CARBON RIVERS, INC.
1 transaction
$1,000

No committee contributions found

1
BLAVATNIK, LEONARD
2 transactions
$6,600
2
HIGGINS, KENNETH
1 transaction
$3,300
3
HIGGINS, PHILIP
1 transaction
$3,300
4
JOHNSTON, BENJAMIN
1 transaction
$3,300
5
JONES, JOHN BAILEY
1 transaction
$3,300
6
RICHARDS, CHRISTINE
1 transaction
$3,300
7
RICHARDS, DANIEL
1 transaction
$3,300
8
THORNTON, JANE
1 transaction
$3,300
9
THORNTON, STEVEN
1 transaction
$3,300
10
GATES, WILLIAM III
1 transaction
$3,300
11
BURNETTE, BRENT
1 transaction
$3,300
12
BURNETTE, JERRY
1 transaction
$3,300
13
BURNETTE, THOMAS JR.
1 transaction
$3,300
14
COLLERAN, JOHN
1 transaction
$3,300
15
DELAY, WILLIAM T
1 transaction
$3,300
16
HASLAM, JAMES II
1 transaction
$3,300
17
LIPMAN, ROBERT S
1 transaction
$3,300
18
MORRIS, GLENN H
1 transaction
$3,300
19
MORRIS, SUZANNE
1 transaction
$3,300

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 3 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]

ID: C001068

Top Contributors

10

1
SEIU COPE (SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION COMMITTEE ON POLITICAL EDUCATION)
PAC WASHINGTON, DC
$3,000
Nov 5, 2024
2
SEIU COPE (SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION COMMITTEE ON POLITICAL EDUCATION)
PAC WASHINGTON, DC
$2,000
Nov 5, 2024
3
NOVY, PENNY
NA RETIRED
Individual BUFFALO GROVE, LA
$546
Sep 29, 2024
4
CZEREPAK, TYMOTEUSZ
SUPREME ADUSTING LLC PUBLIC ADJUSTER
Individual CARY, IL
$520
Oct 6, 2024
5
PORTER, RICHARD
NA RETIRED
Individual NORTHFIELD, IL
$520
Oct 2, 2024
6
TRACY, DON
BROWN HAY STEPHEN'S LLP ATTORNEY
Individual SPRINGFIELD, IL
$500
Sep 22, 2024
7
BOBRICK, EDWARD
NA RETIRED
Individual EVANSTON, IL
$300
Aug 11, 2024
8
NOVY, PENNY
NA RETIRED
Individual BUFFALO GROVE, LA
$260
Oct 19, 2024
9
FREEDMAN, DOUGLASS
FAREVA MORTON GROVE WAREHOUSE OPERATOR
Individual PROSPECT HEIGHTS, IL
$260
Sep 19, 2024
10
KASMAN, ALIK
ENOVA INTERNATIONAL PRINCIPAL ENGINEER
Individual BUFFALO GROVE, IL
$208
Oct 20, 2024

Rep. Edwards, Chuck [R-NC-11]

ID: E000246

Top Contributors

10

1
BAUM, ANN
OSAAT ENTERPRISES LLC DBA MCDONALD'S RESTAURANT OWNER
Individual CHARLOTTE, NC
$3,300
Dec 21, 2023
2
DUHAMEL, WILLIAM F
ROUTE ONE INVESTMENT COMPANY PORTFOLIO MANAGER
Individual SAN FRANCISCO, CA
$3,300
Dec 15, 2023
3
BELL, JOHN W III
BILTMORE PROPERTY GROUP MANAGEMENT
Individual ASHEVILLE, NC
$3,300
Oct 21, 2024
4
EASTERN BAND OF CHEROKEE INDI, TRIBE
UNINCORP INDIAN TRIBE UNINCORP INDIAN TRIBE
Individual CHEROKEE, NC
$3,300
Nov 8, 2024
5
EASTERN BAND OF CHEROKEE INDI, TRIBE
UNINCORP INDIAN TRIBE UNINCORP INDIAN TRIBE
Individual CHEROKEE, NC
$3,300
Feb 13, 2024
6
POPE, JAMES
VARIETY WHOLESALERS RETAILER
Individual RALEIGH, NC
$3,300
Feb 12, 2024
7
SYKES, CLAY
ESG OPERATIONS INC. PRINCIPAL
Individual PENROSE, NC
$3,300
Feb 5, 2024
8
SYKES, LISA
RETIRED RETIRED
Individual PENROSE, NC
$3,300
Feb 5, 2024
9
FAISON, JAY
2040 FOUNDATION DIRECTOR
Individual CHARLOTTE, NC
$3,300
Mar 4, 2024
10
FAISON, JAY
2040 FOUNDATION DIRECTOR
Individual CHARLOTTE, NC
$3,300
Mar 4, 2024

Rep. McBath, Lucy [D-GA-6]

ID: M001208

Top Contributors

10

1
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
Organization PRIOR LAKE, MN
$1,650
Jun 14, 2023
2
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
Organization PRIOR LAKE, MN
$1,650
May 6, 2024
3
WHITE, ROGER
NOT EMPLOYED NOT EMPLOYED
Individual ROSWELL, GA
$5,000
Sep 30, 2024
4
RADOW, LINDA
NOT EMPLOYED NOT EMPLOYED
Individual ATLANTA, GA
$3,300
Oct 10, 2023
5
RADOW, LINDA
NOT EMPLOYED NOT EMPLOYED
Individual ATLANTA, GA
$3,300
Oct 10, 2023
6
ROGERS, JOHN
ARIEL INVESTMENTS LLC CHAIRMAN
Individual CHICAGO, IL
$3,300
Dec 12, 2023
7
EPSTEIN, MARC
SELF EMPLOYED PRIVATE EQUITY
Individual CORAL GABLES, FL
$3,300
Oct 27, 2023
8
OLSEN, KATHY
NOT EMPLOYED RETIRED
Individual NASHVILLE, TN
$3,300
Dec 28, 2023
9
KAHN, SUSAN
NOT EMPLOYED NOT EMPLOYED
Individual ATLANTA, GA
$3,300
Nov 17, 2023
10
RODAN, AMNON
NOT EMPLOYED RETIRED
Individual PACIFIC PALISADES, CA
$3,300
Oct 23, 2023

Donor Network - Rep. Fleischmann, Charles J. "Chuck" [R-TN-3]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

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Showing 34 nodes and 34 connections

Total contributions: $100,846

Top Donors - Rep. Fleischmann, Charles J. "Chuck" [R-TN-3]

Showing top 23 donors by contribution amount

4 Orgs19 Individuals