An Act to amend the National Trails System Act, and for other purposes.
Public Law 95-248 · H.R. 8803 · 95th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Mar 21, 1978 · Public Lands and Natural Resources
Sponsor: Rep. Goodloe Byron (D-MD-6)
Cosponsors (3): Rep. Jonathan Bingham, Rep. Phillip Burton,
Passage votes
- HouseMethod not stated
- SenateMethod not stated
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Amends the National Trails System Act of 1968 to direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish the Advisory Council for the Appalachian National Scenic Trail for a ten-year period. Provides that the Secretary shall consult with such Council with respect to matters relating to the Trail, including the selection of rights-of-way, standards for the erection and maintenance of markers along the Trail, and the administration of the Trail. Sets forth the method for selection of members of the Council and limits the term of members to two years.
Requires the Secretary to develop a comprehensive plan for the management, acquisition, development, and use of the Appalachian Trail, and to submit the plan to the appropriate committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives within two years of the date of enactment of this Act.
Modifies the Secretary's authority concerning the use of eminent domain to provide that the Secretary may acquire in fee title and lesser interest no more than an average of 125 acres per mile.
Authorizes the appropriation of $30,000,000 for fiscal year 1979, $30,000,000 for fiscal year 1980, and $30,000,000, for fiscal year 1981, for the Appalachian National Scenic Trail.
Expresses the intent of the Congress that the Secretary should substantially complete the land acquisition program necessary to insure the protection of the Trail within three years of the enactment of this Act.
Requires the Secretary to report annually to the appropriate committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives on the progress of the acquisition program, until the program is completed.
Directs the Appalachian Trail Conference to submit annual progress reports on the acquisition program to the appropriate committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 15 actions.
- Mar 21, 1978Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 95-248.
- Mar 9, 1978PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- Mar 8, 1978PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Mar 7, 1978Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to Senate amendment.
- Feb 22, 1978FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.
- Feb 10, 1978CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
- Oct 27, 1977CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
- Oct 25, 1977FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #685 (409-12).House roll call 685
- FloorFloor · Measure called up under motion to suspend rules and pass in House.
- Oct 21, 1977CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Natural Resources Committee
- Aug 4, 1977CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Natural Resources Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.