119-S-1376 Journalist Public Summary

Public Summary: S. 1376 — Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act of 2025

1) Headline Summary: Orders a feasibility study on making the Benton MacKaye Trail a National Scenic Trail—no new designation yet, just the study. [1]Congress.gov — Text - S.1376 (119th): Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail Feas…

2) What It Does: The bill directs the Secretary of Agriculture (via the U.S. Forest Service) to complete, within one year of enactment, a study on whether the roughly 287‑mile Benton MacKaye Trail—running through Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina—meets the criteria to become a National Scenic Trail. The study must consult with interested groups, including the Benton MacKaye Trail Association. This is the first step in the multi‑step national‑trail process; any actual designation would require a later act of Congress. [1]Congress.gov — Text - S.1376 (119th): Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail Feas…[2]National Park Service — How a National Trail is Established

3) Who’s For It:

• Senators Thom Tillis (R‑NC), Raphael Warnock (D‑GA), and Ted Budd (R‑NC) sponsor the bill; Sen. Jon Ossoff (D‑GA) is a cosponsor. Backers say the trail offers outdoor access and potential local economic benefits. [3]Congress.gov — All Info - S.1376 (119th): Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail…
• House companion bill sponsors include Reps. Chuck Fleischmann (R‑TN), Steve Cohen (D‑TN), Chuck Edwards (R‑NC), and Lucy McBath (D‑GA). [4]Congress.gov — H.R. 2768 (119th): Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail Feasibil…
• Benton MacKaye Trail Association supports pursuing National Scenic Trail status and highlights benefits for stewardship and visitor experience. [5]Benton MacKaye Trail Association — BMTA’s Quest for National Scenic Trail Desig…

4) Who’s Against It:

• No formal opposition is flagged in the official bill record to date; typical concerns raised in similar trail studies include federal costs, prioritization among many proposed trails, and potential effects near private lands (though most of this route is on federal land). [6]Congress.gov — All Actions - S.1376 (119th): Benton MacKaye National Scenic Tra…[2]National Park Service — How a National Trail is Established

5) What’s Next: On October 21, 2025, the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee ordered S. 1376 to be reported favorably; it now awaits possible floor consideration. The House companion (H.R. 2768) is at the House Natural Resources Committee. If Congress enacts the study and it recommends designation, a separate bill would still be needed to formally add the trail to the National Trails System. [6]Congress.gov — All Actions - S.1376 (119th): Benton MacKaye National Scenic Tra…[4]Congress.gov — H.R. 2768 (119th): Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail Feasibil…[2]National Park Service — How a National Trail is Established

6) Tone: Neutral and factual—this measure commissions a study; it does not itself designate the trail.