Washington, D.C. — Today, legislation introduced by Congressman Darin LaHood to establish a federal designation of Route 66 as a National Historic Trail passed out of the National Resources Committee by a unanimous vote. This comes after the bill received a legislative hearing in November of 2017, at which Rep. LaHood and other Members of the House spoke of the importance of preserving the road for future generations. Rep. LaHood currently serves as the Vice-Chair of the Federal Lands Subcommittee of the National Resources Committee, and has served as a member of it since joining Congress.
“For nearly a century, Route 66 has been a crucial transportation artery for the heartland of America. Towns like Atlanta in my district and many others across our nation have seen the Mother Road keep tourism, employment and revenues up, leading to a higher quality of life and civic pride. It is vital that we highlight and preserve this national historic roadway for future generations, and today’s committee vote gets us one step closer to that goal,” said Rep. LaHood.
Route 66 was an original highway established as part of the U.S. Highway system in 1926. The highway begins in Illinois and ends in California, running through a total of eight states.
Rep. LaHood’s bill (H.R. 801) would designate Route 66 as a National Historic Trail, providing the highway with a permanent program to preserve, promote, and economically develop. It was introduced on February 9, 2017 with Reps. Rodney Davis (R-IL) and Grace F. Napolitano (D-CA) as original cosponsors. The legislation now awaits a vote before the full House of Representatives.
