Doug Bereuter: “on Tuesday, this Member introduced legislation to designate the American Discovery Trail as a component of the National…”

“on Tuesday, this Member introduced legislation to designate the American Discovery Trail as a component of the National Trails System. The bill, H.R. 3250, also creates a new category in the system--National Discovery Trails. The bill is already supported by a bipartisanly balanced 44 cosponsors. This legislation represents an exciting step forward in the development and connection of trails in the United States. The multiuse ADT provides the connections which are needed to link existing trails and create a backbone for the National Trails System. While stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific, it connects large cities and small communities with forests and remote areas. The American Discovery Trail will provide outstanding, family oriented recreation for all Americans. It will also offer important economic development opportunities to the communities along its route. The ADT also takes into account private property concerns since almost all of the trail is on public lands. The few exceptions are in locations where there are existing rights-of-way or agreements with existing trails or by invitation. The bill also mandates that no lands or interests outside the exterior boundaries of federally administered areas may be acquired by the United States solely for the American Discovery Trail. The American Discovery Trail is national in scope, but it is made possible by the grassroots efforts on the State and local level.”