H.R.556 — Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act
House Roll Call
H.R.556
| Bill | H.R.556 — Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act |
|---|---|
| Vote question | On Motion to Recommit |
| Vote type | Yea-and-Nay |
| Result | Failed |
| Totals | Yea 206 / Nay 209 / Present 0 / Not Voting 17 |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R | 0 | 209 | 0 | 9 |
| D | 206 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| I | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Research Brief
On Motion to Recommit
Bill Analysis
HR 556 – Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act (119th Congress)
HR 556 restricts federal agencies from banning or restricting the use of lead ammunition or lead fishing tackle on certain federal lands and waters unless specific scientific and procedural conditions are met.
Core prohibition and scope
- Bars the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture from prohibiting or restricting lead ammunition or tackle on:
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) lands and waters (e.g., national wildlife refuges), and
- U.S. Forest Service (USFS) lands
when used for hunting or fishing.
- Applies to rules, orders, policies, or guidance that have the effect of limiting use of lead for these activities.
Conditions for any future restrictions
- Agencies may impose restrictions only if:
- Based on the “best available science,” and
- Limited to the smallest practicable area, species, or activities necessary to address a specific, identified risk.
- Requires a public notice-and-comment process for any such restriction, even if it might otherwise be done through guidance or non-regulatory policy.
- Effectively prevents broad, preemptive, or nationwide phase-outs of lead ammunition/tackle on covered lands absent a robust scientific record and formal rulemaking.
Agencies and programs affected
- Directly affects:
- Department of the Interior (primarily FWS, potentially National Park Service where hunting/fishing is allowed), and
- Department of Agriculture (USFS).
- Indirectly constrains implementation of wildlife, habitat, and public-lands management plans that might rely on lead restrictions as a conservation tool.
Beneficiaries and regulated parties
- Benefits hunters, anglers, and related industries (ammunition and tackle manufacturers, retailers, guide services) by preserving access to lower-cost lead products and limiting abrupt regulatory changes.
- Constrains federal land managers and environmental/wildlife protection efforts that seek to reduce lead exposure to wildlife, water, or humans.
Funding and timelines
- Contains no new appropriations or mandatory spending; implementation is through existing agency resources and rulemaking processes.
- Takes effect upon enactment and applies prospectively to new or revised restrictions on lead ammunition and tackle on covered federal lands and waters.
Yea (206)
J
Jason Crow
L
Lloyd Doggett
J
John Garamendi
J
John Mannion
L
Lucy McBath
C
Christian Menefee
R
Rashida Tlaib
N
Nydia Velázquez
D
Debbie Wasserman Schultz
Nay (209)
K
Ken Calvert
S
Scott Franklin
L
Lisa McClain
J
John Rutherford
D
David Schweikert
P
Pete Sessions
