[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 45 (Thursday, March 20, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S4157]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              PIONEER NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAILS STUDIES ACT

  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Pioneer 
National Historic Trails Studies Act. This bill would require the 
National Park Service to study the Pony Express, the Oregon, the 
California, and the Mormon National Historic Trails and make 
recommendations to Congress on possible additions to these trails that 
were used by the early pioneers of the West.
  For various reasons, early settlers often used routes to arrive in 
the West which were variations of the main routes now recognized as 
National Historic Trails. These routes were used by large numbers of 
westward pioneers. Since the enactment of the National Trails System 
Act in 1968, support has been building to broaden the law to include 
alternate routes that branch off the main trails. The Pioneer National 
Historic Trails Studies Act allows for the feasibility study and 
designation of side trails and variant routes taken by pioneers 
otherwise associated with the main trails.
  These trails are the highways of our history. They are central to the 
great story of the West. But unfortunately, because of the confining 
``point to point'' wording now found in the Trails Act, many crucial 
parts of the story are not being told. Not every pioneer embarked on 
his journey from Omaha or Independence, and not every great or tragic 
event took place along the main routes. To the contrary, tens of 
thousands of settlers set out from other places, and many of the 
memorable, if not most important, events occurred along historical side 
roads and alternate routes that were chosen because of inclement 
weather, lack of water, and conflicts with Native American tribes, 
among other reasons.
  Since the original passage of the National Trails System Act, the 
Park Service has conducted endless hours of research, and now has a 
more accurate picture of the story of our Western pioneers. There has 
been a great deal of support shown by State and local communities which 
want to broaden the act to include this new knowledge. However, the 
Park Service has determined that legislation is required to do this. 
The Pioneer National Historic Trails Studies Act will enable the Park 
Service to identify those routes most worthy of being included in our 
trails system. This legislation will highlight our Western history, and 
it will do so without any infringement of the rights of private 
property owners.
  Mr. President, I thank the Senate for the opportunity to address this 
important issue today, and I urge my colleagues to support this 
legislation.

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