Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail Study Act of 1999
PL 106-135 (H.R.791), enacted 12/07/1999

PUBLIC LAW 106-135—DEC. 7, 1999 
113 STAT. 1685 
Public Law 106-135 
106th Congress 
An Act 
To amend the National Trails System Act to designate the route of the War of 
1812 British invasion of Maryland and Washington, District of Columbia, and 
Dec. 7, 1999 
the route of the Americam defense, for study for potential addition to the national 
[HR 791] 
trails system. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
Star-Spangled 
Banner National 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
Historic Trail 
This Act may be cited as the "Star-Spangled Banner National 1999 
Historic Trail Study Act of 1999". 
16 USC 1241 
note. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS, 
Congress finds that— 
(1) the British invasion of Meirylgind and Washington, Dis-
trict of Columbia, during the War of 1812 mairks a defining 
period in the history of our Nation, the only occasion on which 
the United States of America has been invaded by a foreign 
power; 
(2) the Star-Spsuigled Banner National Historic Trail traces 
the arrived of the British fleet in the Patuxent River in Calvert 
County and St. Mguys Coimty, Meiryland, the Ismding of British 
forces at Benedict, the sinking of the Chesapeeike Flotilla at 
Pig Point in Prince George's Coimty and Anne Arundel County, 
Marylsmd, the American defeat at the Battle of Bladensbiirg, 
the siege of the Nation's Capital, Washington, District of Colum-
bia (including the burning of the United States Capitol and 
the White House), the British naved diversions in the upper 
Chesapeake Bay leading to the Battle of Caulk's Field in Kent 
County, Meuyland, the route of the American troops fi-om 
Washington through Georgetown, the Maryland Counties of 
Montgomery, Howard, 
and Baltimore, and the 
City of 
Baltimore, Marylemd, to the Battle of North Point, and the 
ultimate victory of the Americans at Fort McHenry on Septem-
ber 14, 1814, where a distinguished Maryland lawyer £uid poet, 
Francis Scott Key, wrote the words that captured the essence 
of our national struggle for independence, words that now serve 
as our national suithem, the Star-Spangled Banner; and 
(3) the designation of this route as a national historic 
tredl— 
(A) would serve as a reminder of the importance of 
the concept of liberty to all who experience the Star-Span-
gled Beuiner Nationsd Historic Trail; and 
113 STAT. 1686 
PUBLIC LAW 106-135—DEC. 7, 1999 
(B) would give long overdue recognition to the patriots 
whose determination to stand firm agednst enemy invasion 
and bombardment preserved this liberty for future genera-
tions of Americans. 
SEC. 3. DESIGNATION OF TRAIL FOR STUDY. 
Section 5(c) of the National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 
1244(c)) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraph (36) (as added by section 
3 of the El Camino Real Para Los Texas Study Act of 1993 
(107 Stat. 1497)) as paragraph (37) and in subparagraph (C) 
by striking "detemine" and inserting "determine"; 
(2) by designating the paragraphs relating to the Old 
Spanish Trail and the Great Western Scenic Trail as para-
graphs (38) and (39), respectively; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
"(40) STAR-SPANGLED BANNER NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL.— 
"(A) IN GENERAL.—The Star-Spangled Banner National His-
toric Trail, tracing the War of 1812 route from the arrival 
of the British fleet in the Patuxent River in Calvert County 
and St. Mary's County, Maryland, the landing of the British 
forces at Benedict, the sinking of the Chesapeake Flotilla at 
Pig Point, the American defeat at the Battle of Bladensburg, 
the siege of the Nation's Capital, Washington, District of 
Columbia (including the burning of the United States Capitol 
and the White House), the British naval diversions in the 
upper Chesapeake Bay leading to the Battle of Caulk's Field 
in Kent County, Maryland, the route of the American troops 
from Washington through (jeorgetown, the Maryland Counties 
of Montgomery, Howard, and Baltimore, and the City of 
Baltimore, Marylgind, to the Battle of North Point, and the 
ultimate victory of the Americans at Fort McHenry on Sep-
tember 14, 1814. 
"(B) AFFECTED AREAS.—The trail crosses eight counties 
within the boundaries of the State of Maryleind, the City of 
Baltimore, Maryland, £ind Washington, District of Columbia. 
"(C) 
COORDINATION WITH OTHER CONGRESSIONALLY MAN-
DATED ACTIVITIES.—The study under this paragraph shall be 
undertaken in coordination with the study authorized under 
section 603 of the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Manage-
ment Act of 1996 (16 U.S.C. la-5 note; 110 Stat. 4172) and 
the Chesapeake Bay Gateways £ind Watertrails Network 
authorized under the Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act of 1998 
(16 U.S.C. 461 note; 112 Stat. 2961). Such coordination shall 
extend to any research needed to complete the studies and 
any findings and implementation actions that result from the 
studies and shall use available resources to the greatest extent 
possible to avoid unnecessary duplication of effort. 
"(D) DEADLINE FOR STUDY.—Not later that 2 years after 
fiinds are made available for the study under this paragraph, 
the study shall be completed and transmitted with final rec-
ommendations to the Committee on Resources in the House 
PUBLIC LAW 106-135—DEC. 7, 1999 
113 STAT. 1687 
of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources in the Senate.". 
Approved December 7, 1999. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 791 (S. 441): 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 106-189 (Comm. on Resources). 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 106-63 accompanying S. 441 (Comm. on Energy and Nat-
ural Resources). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 145 (1999): 
June 30, considered and passed House. 
Nov. 19, considered and passed Senate.