[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 116 (Monday, September 10, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H5461-H5463]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    EL CAMINO REAL DE LOS TEJAS NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL ACT OF 2001

  Mr. PETERSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the 
rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1628) to amend the National Trails System 
Act to designate El Camino Real de los Tejas as a National Historic 
Trail.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 1628

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``El Camino Real de los Tejas 
     National Historic Trail Act of 2001''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds that--
       (1) El Camino Real de los Tejas (the Royal Road to the 
     Tejas), served as the primary route between the Spanish 
     viceregal capital of Mexico City and the Spanish provincial 
     capital of Tejas at Los Adaes (1721-1773) and San Antonio 
     (1773-1821);
       (2) the seventeenth, eighteenth, and early nineteenth 
     century rivalries among the European colonial powers of 
     Spain, France, and England and after their independence, 
     Mexico and the United States, for dominion over lands 
     fronting the Gulf of Mexico, were played out along the 
     evolving travel routes in this immense area;
       (3) the future of several American Indian nations, whose 
     prehistoric trails were later used by the Spaniards for 
     exploration and colonization, was tied to these larger forces 
     and events and the nations were fully involved in and 
     affected by the complex cultural interactions that ensued;
       (4) the Old San Antonio Road was a series of routes 
     established in the early 19th century sharing the same 
     corridor and some routes of El Camino Real, and carried 
     American immigrants from the east, contributing to the 
     formation of the Republic of Texas, and its annexation to the 
     United States;
       (5) the exploration, conquest, colonization, settlement, 
     migration, military occupation, religious conversion, and 
     cultural exchange that occurred in a large area of the 
     borderland was facilitated by El Camino Real de los Tejas as 
     it carried Spanish and Mexican influences northeastward, and 
     by its successor, the Old San Antonio Road, which carried 
     American influence westward, during a historic period which 
     extended from 1689 to 1850; and
       (6) the portions of El Camino Real de los Tejas in what is 
     now the United States extended from the Rio Grande near Eagle 
     Pass and Laredo, Texas and involved routes that changed 
     through time, that total almost 2,600 miles in combined 
     length, generally coursing northeasterly through San Antonio, 
     Bastrop, Nacogdoches, and San Augustine in Texas to 
     Natchitoches, Louisiana, a general corridor distance of 550 
     miles.

     SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION.

       Section 5(a) of the National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 
     1244(a) is amended as follows:
       (1) By designating the paragraph relating to the Ala 
     Kahakai National Historic Trail as paragraph (21).
       (2) By adding at the end the following:
       ``(23) El camino real de los tejas.--
       ``(A) In general.--El Camino Real de los Tejas (The Royal 
     Road to the Tejas) National Historic Trail, a combination of 
     routes totaling 2,580 miles in length from the Rio Grande 
     near Eagle Pass and Laredo, Texas to Natchitoches, Louisiana, 
     and including the Old San Antonio Road, as generally depicted 
     on the maps entitled `El Camino Real de los Tejas', contained 
     in the report prepared pursuant to subsection (b) entitled 
     `National Historic Trail Feasibility Study and Environmental 
     Assessment: El Camino Real de los Tejas, Texas-Louisiana', 
     dated July 1998. A map generally depicting the trail shall be 
     on file and available for public inspection in the Office of 
     the National Park Service, Department of the Interior. The 
     trail shall be administered by the Secretary of the Interior.
       ``(B) Coordination of activities.--The Secretary of the 
     Interior may coordinate with United States and Mexican public 
     and non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, 
     and, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the 
     Government of Mexico and its political subdivisions, for the 
     purpose of exchanging trail information and research, 
     fostering trail preservation and educational programs, 
     providing technical assistance, and working to establish an 
     international historic trail with complementary preservation 
     and education programs in each nation.''.

     SEC. 4. PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS PROTECTION.

       Designation of El Camino Real de los Tejas under this Act 
     does not itself confer any additional authority to apply 
     other existing Federal laws and regulations on non-Federal 
     lands along the trail. Laws or regulations requiring public 
     entities and agencies to take into consideration a national 
     historic trail shall continue to apply notwithstanding the 
     foregoing. On non-Federal lands, the national historic trail 
     shall be established only when landowners voluntarily request 
     certification of their sites and segments of the trail 
     consistent with section 3(a)(3) of the National Trails System 
     Act. Notwithstanding section 7(g) of such Act, the United 
     States is authorized to acquire privately-owned real property 
     or an interest in such property for purposes of the trail 
     only with the willing consent of the owner of such property 
     and shall have no authority to condemn or otherwise 
     appropriate privately-owned real property or an interest in 
     such property for the purposes of El Camino Real de los Tejas 
     National Historic Trail.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Peterson) and the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands

[[Page H5462]]

(Mrs. Christensen) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Peterson).
  Mr. PETERSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time 
as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1828 would establish the El Camino Real de los 
Tejas National Trail to the National Trails system. The Camino Real, 
also known as the royal road, is a combination of historic routes 
totaling 2,600 miles used by the Spanish to connect them to Spanish 
Capitals. The history of the trail extends from early American Indian 
nations to modern exploration and colonization.
  Today, the trail extends from the Texas-Mexico border along the Rio 
Grande River to Natchitoches, Louisiana. These roads were primary 
transportation routes starting in the 1600s, and thus had significant 
influences on the culture and political identity of south central Texas 
and western Louisiana.
  In addition to the designation as a National Historic Trail, H.R. 
1628 would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to coordinate an 
international effort to recognize the significance of this trail, and 
foster education and research of its history with the country of 
Mexico.
  Finally, H.R. 1628 specifies that the acquisition of privately-owned 
land or interest in land would occur only with the consent of the 
owner.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1628 is supported by the majority and the minority, 
as well as the administration. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 
1628.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, a study authorized by the 103rd Congress found that the 
El Camino Real de los Tejas was eligible for designation as a National 
Historic Trail under criteria established by the National Trails System 
Act, H.R. 1628, which will officially add this new route to our 
National Trails System.
  The trail would be comprised of several different and overlapping 
routes totaling more than 2,500 miles. Beginning on the U.S.-Mexican 
border between the Texas cities of Eagle Pass and Laredo, the trail 
would run across Texas through cities including San Antonio and Austin, 
and end in the town of Natchitoches, Louisiana.
  These routes were established around 1860 during the Spanish colonial 
period and remained in use through the early 1880s. During that time, 
these trails played a significant role in the settlement and economic 
development of the Texas frontier during the Spanish, Mexican, and 
Anglo-American periods.
  This legislation makes clear that the trail may only be established 
with the consent of any affected private landowners, and mandates that 
any land acquisition for trail purposes may be from willing sellers 
only.
  We commend our colleague, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Rodriguez), 
and are pleased to support him for his hard work on this legislation. I 
urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1628.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman 
from Texas (Mr. Rodriguez).
  Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, today I am honored to ask the House to 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1628, the Camino Real de los 
Tejas Historic Trails Act of 2001. This legislation would designate a 
series of historic trails dating back to the 1600s as National Historic 
Trails. These trails, used first by the Native Americans, became the 
primary travel routes for exploration and then for commercial routes 
for the Spanish, the Mexicans, the Texans, and the Americans.
  Before I go any further, Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to express my 
sincere thanks to the chairman and to the committee for their hard 
work; and to the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen) and the ranking 
member, the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Rahall), for their hard 
work in bringing the bill to the floor today.
  The Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation, and Public Lands has 
been very supportive. I would like to thank its chairman, the gentleman 
from Colorado (Mr. Hefley), and the ranking member, the gentlewoman 
from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen). I appreciate the bipartisan 
support that the committee has provided.
  The El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trails Act has 
received tremendous support from local governments and community 
organizations all across the State of Texas. More than 60 cities, 
counties, and local organizations from all over the border, from Mexico 
into Louisiana, have passed formal resolutions endorsing the passage of 
this legislation.
  I owe a special thanks to the Alamo Area Council of Governments for 
its leadership in working on this with the National Park Service, with 
me and my office, and with local governments along the trail route for 
the more than 3 years they have worked on this legislation. Without 
their hard work, we would not be here today.
  The National Park Service completed its feasibility study in July of 
1998 pursuant to Public Law 103-145. The study concluded that the 
proposed trail met all the applicable criteria in the National Trails 
System Act, Public Law 90-543. In the 105th Congress, the Senate passed 
similar legislation, the El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic 
Trail Act of 1998, Senate bill 2276, but the Congress ended before the 
House had the opportunity to consider the legislation.
  The bill before the House today contains a number of important 
changes in the version passed by the Senate in the 105th Congress. In 
an effort to clarify the intent of the legislation and to respond to 
concerns raised by private property owners and advocates during the 
bill's consideration, H.R. 1628 contains specific provisions to ensure 
protection by private property rights, as our chairman has indicated.
  Specifically, the bill states unambiguously that no land or interest 
in land can be acquired by the Federal Government without the willing 
consent of the owner; secondly, that the Federal Government has no 
authority to condemn or appropriate land for the trail; that the trail 
would not be established on the ground unless a private property owner 
voluntarily requests to participate; and that the designation of the 
trail does not confer any additional authority to apply other nontrail 
Federal laws that might be implicationable.
  These provisions reflect my desire to remove any concerns that the 
National Historic Trail in Texas would negatively impact on private 
property owners. In fact, the experience of other existing national 
historic trails suggests just the opposite. Private property owners can 
and do benefit from participation in the trail program, but only if 
they so choose.
  The trail that will be designated today is truly historic. The Camino 
Real, or Royal Highway, forged the way for the early development of 
Texas from the Spanish colony to an independent Republic as a State of 
the United States and as the first great highway of Texas. This Camino 
Real opened the door to trade and cultural exchange, which continues to 
impact our lives today.
  The State of Texas recognized the critical importance of these royal 
highways in 1929 when the State legislature designated portions of the 
El Camino Real de los Tejas, later known as the Old San Antonio Road, 
as one of Texas's historic trails.
  State Highway 21 marks the trail's pathway in many parts of the 
State, as do State historical markers. Designation as a National 
Historic Trail would greatly enhance the resources available for trail 
preservation and public education of its unique and important history.
  The Camino Real de los Tejas, as defined in this legislation 
collectively, represents a series of roads and trails extending for 
over 1,000 miles from Mexico City to Los Adeas in what is today 
Louisiana, beginning with the Indian trails. Remember, this goes back, 
it is a beautiful history, to 1689 and the explorers as well as 
missionaries and people who colonized the area.
  All told, various portions of this El Camino Real de los Tejas now 
extends up to 550, and some up to 2,600, miles as they paralleled each 
other with various roads.
  The Camino Real de los Tejas linked the Spanish in Mexico to their 
new outposts in East Texas in the late 17th and 18th century. The 
mission San Antonio de Valero, later known as the Alamo, was 
established along the Camino Real route and later served as a

[[Page H5463]]

focal point for military battles for Texas independence. Critical 
supplies made their way to the American Colonies during the war of 
independence via the Camino Real de los Tejas trail system.
  The El Camino Real de los Tejas road system provided many 
transportation routes for Mexican and Texan armies during the Texas 
revolution, and continued to play a major role in the military future 
of the area.
  Recognizing the significance of El Camino Real de los Tejas and its 
historical importance grounds us for the future and provides us great 
opportunities for today. The trail's designation will help enhance 
tourism and economic development for many of the small cities that it 
goes through, and for the towns and trails that it passes through. The 
local museums as well as historical sites will give new opportunities 
for growth.
  The San Antonio Missions National Historic Park and the importance of 
the beautification network of the mission in San Antonio will provide a 
base for operation of the trail. The number of public roads, State 
parks, and national forests can also provide public access to this 
important piece of our history.
  As we strive to boost international trade and development of our 
local communities, as well as enhance educational opportunities, we 
only have to look to the El Camino Real de los Tejas for inspiration.
  I can just add once again, I thank the gentleman very much. We always 
talk about the westward movement. We forget there was a northward 
movement also, and a southern movement.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Turner).
  Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding time to 
me.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1628, the Camino Real de los 
Tejas National Historic Trail Act. I want to thank the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Rodriguez) for his leadership on this legislation, as well 
as the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Hefley), chairman of the 
Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation, and Public Land, and its 
ranking member, the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. 
Christensen).
  This trail runs through my hometown of Crockett, as well as several 
other communities in my district, such as Nacogdoches and Augustine. It 
is a very historic part of our State in East Texas. I am proud to 
represent the congressional district once represented by Sam Houston.
  This historic highway system, which has served Texas for over 150 
years, was, beginning in 1689, one of the primary exploration, 
commerce, and immigration routes through our great State of Texas. The 
highway, as has been mentioned, extends from Mexico across the Rio 
Grande all the way up through East Texas into Louisiana. The trail 
covers over 2,600 miles in all.
  I have received resolutions in favor of this legislation from 
numerous communities along the trail urging that this highway be 
designated as a National Historic Trail, so I am proud to join with my 
colleagues here on the floor today advocating that the House adopt H.R. 
1628 to designate the El Camino Real as a National Historic Trail.
  Mr. PETERSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time 
as I may consume.
  I want to share with the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Rodriguez) that we 
are delighted to support his bill, and urge fellow Members to do 
likewise.
  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support 
of H.R. 1628, the El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail 
Act of 2001. I want to commend my colleague, Representative Ciro 
Rodriguez of Texas for introducing this bill.
  H.R. 1628, the El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail 
Act of 2001, is a good bill because it provides for the protection and 
conservation of our cultural heritage. The enactment of H.R. 1628 will 
serve to continue recognizing the cultural heritage and preservation of 
the Southwest United States. The measure will also go a long way in 
strengthening the many common ties between the United States and Mexico 
that are symbolized by and embodied in the Camino Reales of the 
Southwest.
  The El Camino Real de los Tejas has connected the people of Mexico 
and the United States in transportation and commerce. This bill would 
help recognize and designate this network of trade routes, post routes, 
cattle trails and military highways used by Native Americans, Spanish, 
French and English explorers. Moreover, this bill illustrates the 
historical importance of these corridors and will contribute to the 
enhancement of tourism and economic development throughout the region.
  Designating El Camino Real de los Tejas as a National Historic Trail 
will, undoubtedly reconnect our citizens even more closely to the ties 
of historical and cultural heritage with Mexico and Spain. Revitalizing 
the Camino Real de los Tejas will also allow the larger family of 
Americans to participate in and benefit from that effort. It will lead 
to a more rounded, more holistic view of the history of our continent, 
one that will enable us to continue to discover and explore the 
commonalities that bond the U.S. with Mexico and Spain.
  Last year, Representative Sylvestre Reyes and I sponsored similar 
legislation that was signed by President Clinton. That measure 
designated El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, which ran from El Paso, 
Texas to San Juan Pueblo in New Mexico as a National Historic Trail.
  H.R. 1628 is equally important to the preservation of our cultural 
resources. Again, I commend Mr. Rodriguez for introducing this 
legislation and urge my colleagues to support it.
  I hope that together through efforts like this, we can continue to 
expand cultural heritage preservation and tourism initiatives 
throughout the Southwest. In doing so, we celebrate our rich cultural 
history while expanding economic opportunities.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PETERSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance 
of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Peterson) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1628.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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