What This Bill Does
This bill requires two federal agencies, the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture, to identify and develop long-distance bike trails on federal recreational lands (land managed by the federal government for public use and enjoyment). The agencies must find at least 10 existing trails that qualify and at least 10 areas where new trails could be built.
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Who It Affects
- The Secretary of the Interior
- The Secretary of Agriculture
- Members of the public who bike on federal lands
- Organizations interested in trail development
- Communities near federal recreational lands
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Key Provisions
- Two federal agencies must identify at least 10 long-distance bike trails using existing trails and roads within 18 months of the law taking effect. (Sec. 3(a)(1))
- The two agencies must identify at least 10 areas where new long-distance bike trails could be developed or completed within 18 months of the law taking effect. (Sec. 3(a)(2))
- The agencies must allow the public to comment on the trails and areas they identify, and must consider geographic fairness when selecting trails. (Sec. 3(b))
- Each identified trail must not conflict with existing uses like hiking, horseback riding, or pack animal use, and must follow the land management plans already in place. (Sec. 3(e))
- The agencies must publish maps, install signs, create promotional materials, and work with outside groups to help build and maintain these trails. (Sec. 3(c))
- Within 2 years of the law taking effect, the agencies must publish a report listing all identified trails and summarizing public comments received. (Sec. 3(d))
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What Changes
If this becomes law, the federal government must formally identify and promote long-distance bike trails on its lands instead of leaving this work undone. The agencies will need to create public processes for people to share opinions about which trails to develop and must present their work in a report to the public.
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Important Definitions
- **Long-distance bike trail**: A continuous route at least 80 miles long that mainly uses dirt or natural surface trails, may connect along paved roads, and cannot be in areas where biking conflicts with existing management rules.
- **Federal recreational lands**: Land and water managed by the federal government where the public can recreate.
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Effective Date
Not specified in bill text
IB
Union Calendar No. 742
118TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 1319
[Report No. 118–907, Part I]
To require the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture
to develop long-distance bike trails on Federal land.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MARCH 1, 2023
Mr. NEGUSE (for himself, Mr. CURTIS, and Ms. LEE of Nevada) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Re-
sources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period
to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consider-
ation of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee
concerned
DECEMBER 18, 2024
Additional sponsors: Mr. KHANNA, Mrs. GONZA´LEZ-COLO´N, Mrs. CHAVEZ-
DEREMER, and Mr. MOLINARO
DECEMBER 18, 2024
Reported from the Committee on Natural Resources
DECEMBER 18, 2024
Committee on Agriculture discharged; committed to the Committee of the
Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
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•HR 1319 RH
A BILL
To require the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary
of Agriculture to develop long-distance bike trails on
Federal land.
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•HR 1319 RH
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
2
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
3
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Biking on Long-Dis-
4
tance Trails Act’’.
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SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
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In this Act:
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(1) FEDERAL
RECREATIONAL
LANDS.—The
8
term ‘‘Federal recreational lands’’ has the meaning
9
given the term ‘‘Federal recreational lands and
10
waters’’ in section 802(5) of the Federal Lands
11
Recreation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6801(5)).
12
(2) LONG-DISTANCE
BIKE
TRAIL.—The term
13
‘‘long-distance bike trail’’ means a continuous route,
14
consisting of 1 or more trails or rights-of-way,
15
that—
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(A) is not less than 80 miles in length;
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(B) primarily makes use of dirt or natural
18
surface trails;
19
(C) may require connections along paved
20
or other improved roads;
21
(D) does not include Federal recreational
22
lands where mountain biking or related activi-
23
ties are not consistent with management re-
24
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•HR 1319 RH
quirements for those Federal recreational lands;
1
and
2
(E) to the maximum extent practicable,
3
makes use of trails and roads that were on Fed-
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eral recreational lands on or before the date of
5
the enactment of this Act.
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(3) SECRETARIES.—The term ‘‘Secretaries’’
7
means the Secretary of the Interior and the Sec-
8
retary of Agriculture, acting jointly.
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(4) SECRETARY CONCERNED.—The term ‘‘Sec-
10
retary concerned’’ means the following:
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(A) The Secretary of the Interior, with re-
12
spect to Federal recreational lands under the
13
jurisdiction of that Secretary.
14
(B) The Secretary of Agriculture, with re-
15
spect to Federal recreational lands under the
16
jurisdiction of that Secretary.
17
SEC. 3. LONG-DISTANCE BIKE TRAILS ON FEDERAL REC-
18
REATIONAL LANDS.
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(a) IDENTIFICATION OF LONG-DISTANCE TRAILS.—
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Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment
21
of this Act, the Secretaries shall identify—
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(1) not fewer than 10 long-distance bike trails
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that make use of trails and roads in existence on the
24
date of the enactment of this Act; and
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•HR 1319 RH
(2) not fewer than 10 areas in which there is
1
an opportunity to develop or complete a trail that
2
would qualify as a long-distance bike trail.
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(b) PUBLIC COMMENT.—The Secretaries shall—
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(1) develop a process to allow members of the
5
public to comment regarding the identification of
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trails and areas under subsection (a); and
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(2) consider the identification, development,
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and completion of long-distance bike trails in a geo-
9
graphically equitable manner.
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(c) MAPS, SIGNAGE, AND PROMOTIONAL MATE-
11
RIALS.—For any long-distance bike trail identified under
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subsection (a), the Secretary concerned may—
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(1) publish and distribute maps, install signage,
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and issue promotional materials; and
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(2) coordinate with stakeholders to leverage any
16
non-Federal resources necessary for the stewardship,
17
development, or completion of trails.
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(d) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date
19
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretaries, in partner-
20
ship with interested organizations, shall prepare and pub-
21
lish a report that lists the trails identified under sub-
22
section (a), including a summary of public comments re-
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ceived in accordance with the process developed under sub-
24
section (b).
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•HR 1319 RH
(e) CONFLICT AVOIDANCE WITH OTHER USES.—The
1
Secretary concerned shall ensure that each long-distance
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bike trail or area identified under subsection (a)—
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(1) does not conflict with—
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(A) the uses, before the date of the enact-
5
ment of this Act, of any trail or road that is
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part of that long-distance bike trail;
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(B) multiple-use areas where biking, hik-
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ing, horseback riding, or use by pack and sad-
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dle stock are existing uses on the date of the
10
enactment of this Act;
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(C) the purposes for which any trail was or
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is established under the National Trails System
13
Act (16 U.S.C. 1241 et seq.); and
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(D) any area managed under the Wilder-
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ness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.); and
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(2) complies with land use and management
17
plans of the Federal recreational lands that are part
18
of that long-distance bike trail.
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Union Calendar No. 742
118TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 1319
[Report No. 118–907, Part I]
A BILL
To require the Secretary of the Interior and the
Secretary of Agriculture to develop long-distance
bike trails on Federal land.
DECEMBER 18, 2024
Reported from the Committee on Natural Resources
DECEMBER 18, 2024
Committee on Agriculture discharged; committed to the
Committee of the Whole House on the State of the
Union and ordered to be printed
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