Bill to commemorate centennial anniversary of Route 66 passed by US Congress

(KY3) - A bill to commemorate the centennial anniversary of Route 66 in 2026 heads to the president’s desk after approval from both institutions of Congress.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed The Route 66 Centennial Commission Act on Dec. 10, nearly four months after the legislation was approved by the Senate.

If signed into law by the president, the bill would create a 15-person commission that would recommend activities to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Route 66 in 2026. The commission would consist of representatives from each of the eight Route 66 states, including Missouri.

Members could recommend the production of various written materials, films and documentaries, and educational programs to commemorate the history of Route 66.

Route 66 was commissioned as the first all-paved U.S. highway in 1926. The route connected local and state roads from Chicago to Los Angeles and included a path in Springfield, Missouri. While Route 66 was decommissioned in 1985, some cities preserve sections of it for travelers.

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