{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-and-connolly-introduce-bicameral-legislation-to-protect_expand-national-scenic-trails", "Blumenthal & Connolly Introduce Bicameral Legislation to Protect & Expand National Scenic Trails", "2024-12-20", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[WASHINGTON, D.C.] \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and U.S. Representative Gerry Connolly (D-VA) introduced legislation to preserve and expand America\u2019s national trail system. The Complete America\u2019s Great Trails Act gives a tax credit to landowners who voluntarily make land contributions towards the completion of National Scenic Trails, expanding the trail system and protecting the land from development.\n\nConnecticut is home to two of the 11 National Scenic Trails\u2014the Appalachian Trail, which extends 52 miles across the state from Salisbury in the north to Sherman in the south, and the New England Trail, which extends 117 miles across the state from Suffield in the north to Guilford in the south.\n\n\u201cThe system of National Scenic Trails provides access to truly extraordinary landscapes\u2014accessing the beauty of nature and recreational opportunities,\u201d said Blumenthal. \u201cThe Complete America\u2019s Great Trails Act incentivizes landowners to help close gaps in our national trail system, ensuring we protect habitat from encroachment of development while expanding the trails themselves. We owe it to ourselves and to future generations to preserve these treasured spaces.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Complete America\u2019s Great Trails Act will enhance, expand, and protect trails in America\u2019s most treasured places, from Mt. Vernon to Mount St. Helens, by providing landowners with incentives to protect public access and natural landscapes along America\u2019s National Scenic Trails,\u201d said Connolly. \u201cI am proud to lead this effort with Senator Blumenthal and look forward to our continued work together to protect these American treasures for generations to come.\u201d\n\nThe Complete America\u2019s Great Trails Act provides landowners who make a voluntary land contribution towards the completion of the National Scenic Trails with a tax credit equal to the fair market value of the portion of the land, furthering the goal of strengthening the connectivity and improving the maintenance of the trail system.\n\nThe legislation is cosponsored in the Senate by U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).\n\nThe legislation is supported by the Connecticut Forest and Park Association.\n\n\u201cWalking and hiking in nature is a wonderful experience that brings with it many benefits, including good health, time with friends and family, and conserving the environment,\u201d said Andy Bicking, Executive Director of the Connecticut Forest & Park Association, the state\u2019s oldest conservation organization that manages the 825-mile network of Blue-Blazed Hiking Trails. \u201cWe\u2019re grateful for Senator Blumenthal\u2019s leadership in reintroducing the Complete America\u2019s Great Trails Act. The legislation will help protect national trail resources for future generations and secure access to the outdoors for all people.\u201d\n\nThe full text of the bill can be found here.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-and-connolly-introduce-bicameral-legislation-to-protect_expand-national-scenic-trails"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9003179147839546, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}