The 115th Congress failed to pass two Route 66-related bills into law before the legislative body’s session ended Jan. 3, leaving Route 66 boosters the prospect of starting the process all over again with the new Congress.
The Route 66 National Historic Trail Designation Act and the Route 66 Centennial Commission Act easily passed through the U.S. House of Representatives and were awaiting action in the U.S. Senate.
Then the government shutdown happened in late December, and almost all legislation has stalled since then because President Donald Trump has demanded taxpayer funding for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Both Route 66 bills faced fair-to-middling chances of becoming law, but the shutdown ultimately proved fatal.
One potential problem that has emerged with the failure of the Congress to pass the national-trail bill is the National Park Service’s Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program is scheduled to sunset in 2019, leaving the Mother Road without any sort of official preservation program after that.
The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership supported both bills, but in particular lobbied for passage of the National Historic Trail measure. Route 66 News has been a supporter of the national-trail proposal for years; you can read why here.
Bill Thomas, executive director of the partnership, was asked in an email what the next move will be. He answered:
The Road Ahead is working with our contacts in D.C. to identify the best ways to move forward in the 116th Congress. Those plans are still being formulated, but I’ll definitely keep you in the loop.
U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood (R-Ill.) was an early adopter of the legislation and probably will have some thoughts about reintroducing the bill and possibly tweaking it for easier passage. U.S. Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.), also a co-sponsor, probably will be aboard. Both men were re-elected to their posts.
Meanwhile, with the centennial of Route 66 approaching in 2026, at least one state has taken matters into its own hands. Illinois officially formed a centennial committee when the law went into effect Jan. 1.
Missouri tried similar legislation last year, but it died in the chamber. Oklahoma lawmakers are rumored to be considering one, as well.
(Image of sunset at the U.S. Capitol building in Washington by Virginia Pickering via Flickr)