For those pining for the reauthorization of the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program, events this week in Congress are providing hope.
Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) reintroduced the Omnibus Public Lands Bill on Wednesday. This is the legislative package that contains the authorization to extend the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program for another 10 years. The 66 program provides cost-share grants to help preserve historical properties on Route 66 and other assistance. Without a reauthorization, the program ends in late 2009.
The lands bill enjoys broad bipartisan support. However, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) put a hold on the legislation last month. Coburn is a longtime hawk against federal spending and wouldn’t budge from blocking the bill, despite pleas from Route 66 advocates that include many from his home state.
I confirmed that the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program is included in Bingaman”s reintroduced Lands Bill. The summary for the Route 66 program on Page 8 of this nearly 1,300-page pdf file of the legislation.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said he would call for a Sunday vote on the bill. Whether this tactic will work is uncertain.
Let’s wait and see.