What legislative path did the trail follow?
Based on the finding of national significance, on April 6, 2006, Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-MD) and Senator John Warner (R-VA) introduced bipartisan legislation, S. 2568, to establish the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail. The bill would designate “a series of water routes extending approximately 3,000 miles along the Chesapeake Bay,” that traces the 1607 -1609 voyages of Captain John Smith. On May 24, 2006, the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources unanimously approved S.2568, reporting the bill to the full Senate. Also on May 24, 2006, Representative Jo Ann Davis (R-VA) introduced companion House legislation, H.R. 5466 to establish the trail. On September 28, 2006, the Subcommittee on National Parks in the House Resources Committee held a hearing on H.R. 5466, where the Bush Administration testified in support of trail establishment based on the findings of the trail feasibility study.
