[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 12 (Tuesday, January 30, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S773-S774]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. HATCH (for himself and Mr. Bennett):
  S. 213. A bill to amend the National Trails System Act to update the 
feasibility and suitability studies of 4 national historic trails and 
provide for possible additions to such trails; to the Committee on 
Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce an amendment to 
the National Trails System Act which would update the feasibility and 
suitability studies of four national historic trails and allow possible 
additions to them. The trails in question are the Oregon, the Mormon, 
the Pony Express and the California National Historic Trails.
  In 1978, the Oregon and Mormon trails were established by the 
National Trails System Act. At that time the language of the bill 
defined these trails as ``point to point,'' limiting them to one 
beginning point and one destination. The Mormon Pioneer National 
Historic Trail at that time was defined as the route Brigham Young took 
in 1846 through Iowa and then to the Salt Lake Valley in 1847. The 
Oregon Trail was defined narrowly as the route taken by settlers from 
Independence, Missouri, to Oregon City from 1841 to 1848. It, too, was 
limited to a single trail with only three variants.
  Later, in 1992, Congress passed an amendment for the establishment of 
the California and Pony Express National Historic Trails. This 
amendment broadened the possibility of trail variants for the 
California Trail and provided a more accurate depiction of the original 
trail. However, the legislation I am introducing today will provide 
additional authority for variations to these trails.
  To those of us in the West, these trails are the highways of our 
history. With this legislation, I hope to capture the stories made 
along the side roads, as well. In many cases, our most interesting and 
telling history was made along the variations of the main trails. Since 
the enactment of the National Trails System Act in 1978, there has been 
a great deal of support to broaden the Act to include these side roads 
to history.
  Not every pioneer company embarked on their journey from Omaha, 
Nebraska or Independence, Missouri. Tens of thousands of settlers began 
from other starting points. These trail variations and alternate routes 
show the ingenuity and adaptability of the poineers as they were forced 
to contend with inclement weather, lack of water, difficult terrain, 
and hostile Native American tribes. The variant routes taken by the 
pioneers tell important stories that would otherwise slip through the 
cracks under a strict interpretation of the National Trails System Act.
  The Act requires that comprehensive management and use plans be 
prepared for all historic trails. In 1981, such plans were completed 
for the Mormon and Oregon trails. Since that time, however, endless 
hours of research by the Park Service and trails organizations have 
produced a more complete picture of the westward expansion. The 
National Park Service has determined, however, that legislation is 
required to update the trails with this newfound history.
  That is why I am introducing this legislation today. This bill would 
authorize the study of further important additions to the California, 
Mormon Pioneer, Oregon, and Pony Express National Historic Trails and 
allow for a more complete story to be told of our history in the West.
  I thank the Senate for the opportunity to address this issue today, 
and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

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