The U.S. House of Representatives on Monday passed the Route 66 Centennial Commission Act. It next will be considered by the U.S. Senate.
The measure was passed by a voice vote without objection.
Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.), a key sponsor of the bill known as H.R. 66, issued this statement after the bill passed:
Route 66 is a symbol of American independence and prosperity, a critical part of our economy, and it’s important to preserve it for future generations. I would like to thank my colleagues for their support of this bill that passed the House today.
Here is Davis talking about the bill on the House floor:
The Route 66 Centennial Commission Act aims to honor Route 66 on its centennial in 2026. The U.S. Department of Transportation would be instructed a plan on the preservation needs of Route 66.
The commission will consist of 19 members, including three appointed by the president; two from the Secretary of Transportation; one each by the governor of Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California; three more recommended by the U.S. House Speaker in consultation with the minority leader; and three more recommended by the Senate Majority Leader, with consultation from the minority leader.
Commission members, according to the bill, must have a demonstrated knowledge of “importance of historical figures and events; and substantial knowledge and appreciation of Route 66.”
The full text of the bill may be read here.
The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership, which supports Davis’ bill, also is shepherding a House-approved bill in the Senate to name Route 66 as a National Historic Trail.
(Image of a Route 66 shield on the road near Barstow, California, by Chris Richards via Flickr)
This RT66 Centenial Bill is toothless paper and is of “good intentions” only….
It has’nt stopped the current destruction of the last remaining section of Route66 being vandalised & destroyed in Springfield MO…by a Kum & Go gas station developement.
How ironic…. Preservation Fail.
Well Paul, the Route 66 Centennial Commission Act isn’t a law yet…so it can’t stop, or recommend the stoppage, of anything. I wouldn’t be too disappointed in it just yet.
But I am sorry to hear you are losing some of the original road in Missouri.
And congratulations to Rep. Davis and the House on their actions.
I live on old route 66 in Miami. The road is so horrible, countless tourist turn around in our driveway almost daily. The county says they can’t do anything since it’s a historic site and state does nothing.