On the recordMarch 13, 2001
as currently written, the National Trails System Act authorizes the Federal Government to acquire property for use as part of a national trail in some cases and not in others. In still other instances, Federal authority regarding land purchases under the Act is simply unclear. The development of a system of trails that is truly national in scope has been slower than supporters of the program had hoped, and we fear that this inconsistency regarding Federal land acquisition may be a contributing factor. H.R. 834 will amend the Act to specify that, as long as there is a willing seller, the Federal Government may acquire land under the Trails Act. We support such a change in the hope that clarity on this issue will allow the development of a national trails system to progress more quickly. We urge our colleagues to support H.R. 834. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Source
govinfo.gov
