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HR 8403118th CongressFailed / ExpiredHouse

Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act of 2024

Policy Area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
View on Congress.gov
Origin Chamber
House
Last Updated
Dec 6, 2025
Latest Action Date
Jul 24, 2024

Latest Action

Subcommittee Hearings Held

Official Summary

Official summary has not been imported yet.

GovScope Watchdog™

AI Government Intelligence™
Executive Summary

The Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act of 2024 is a legislative proposal introduced in the House during the 118th Congress. The bill aims to authorize a feasibility study regarding the establishment of the Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail. The study would likely assess the potential for creating a designated scenic trail, including considerations of environmental, recreational, and land management factors. As of the latest update, subcommittee hearings have been held to discuss the bill, but the bill ultimately failed or expired without becoming law. No full text or official summary is available to provide detailed provisions or funding specifics.

Bottom Line

This bill sought to initiate a feasibility study for a national scenic trail named after Benton MacKaye but did not advance beyond subcommittee hearings and expired without enactment.

Policy Risk Level
🟢 Low
Neutral Risk Assessment
Key Points
  • The bill pertains to the feasibility study of the Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail.
  • It falls under the policy area of Public Lands and Natural Resources.
  • The latest legislative action was subcommittee hearings held on July 24, 2024.
  • The bill status is marked as failed or expired, indicating it did not pass into law.
  • No official summary or full text is available to clarify specific provisions or funding mechanisms.
Who Benefits?

['Federal land management agencies potentially involved in trail management or study (e.g., National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service)', 'Outdoor recreation enthusiasts and hiking communities interested in scenic trails', 'Local and regional governments along the proposed trail corridor', 'Environmental and conservation organizations focused on public land preservation']

Potential Concerns

['Lack of detailed information on funding sources or budgetary impact for the feasibility study', 'Unclear authority or responsibility for conducting and overseeing the study due to missing full text', 'Potential challenges in coordinating among multiple federal, state, and local agencies', 'No information on timelines or criteria for study completion and reporting', 'The bill’s failure to advance may reflect legislative or procedural hurdles']

Political Context

The bill was introduced in the House during the 118th Congress and received subcommittee hearings, indicating some level of legislative consideration. However, it did not progress further and ultimately expired. The focus on a national scenic trail feasibility study places it within ongoing congressional interest in public lands, outdoor recreation, and conservation efforts. The absence of a full text or summary limits detailed understanding of its legislative scope.

Hidden Impact Review

Hidden impact flags detected: 2

GovScope reviewed 2 policy-risk categories. Hover for a quick definition. Click detected flags for bill-specific details.

2 Detected
Detected Flags
Indirect Effects

['If enacted, the feasibility study could influence future land management and recreational planning decisions in the regions considered for the trail.', 'The study might encourage collaboration among federal, state, and local agencies on public land use and conservation.', 'Potential economic impacts on local communities through increased outdoor recreation opportunities if the trail is eventually established.']

GovScope Watchdog Notes

Transparency is limited due to the absence of the full bill text and official summary, restricting detailed analysis of provisions, funding, and authority. The bill’s failure to advance past subcommittee hearings suggests limited legislative momentum. Oversight considerations include clarifying which agency would conduct the study and how results would be reported to Congress and the public.

Passage Likelihood: LowConfidence: 75%Model: gpt-4.1-mini

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