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
H.R. 556 – Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act (119th Congress)
H.R. 556 restricts federal agencies from banning or materially restricting the use of lead ammunition or lead fishing tackle on most federal public lands and waters unless specific, science-based conditions are met.
Core prohibition:
- The Department of the Interior (DOI) and Department of Agriculture (USDA) may not prohibit or restrict lead ammunition or tackle on:
- Land under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), or National Park Service (NPS); and
- Land under the jurisdiction of the Forest Service.
- The restriction applies to hunting, recreational shooting, and fishing activities.
Exception criteria: A ban or restriction on lead ammunition or tackle is allowed only if:
- It is based on the “best available science,” and
- It is limited to the smallest practicable area, and
- It is for:
- A specific unit of federal land or water, or
- A specific species of wildlife, and
- It is necessary to comply with:
- The Endangered Species Act of 1973, or
- The Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
Scope and agencies:
- Primarily affects DOI (FWS, BLM, NPS) and USDA (Forest Service).
- Does not create new programs or funding streams; it constrains regulatory authority.
- Does not apply to non-DOI/USDA lands (e.g., Department of Defense lands) unless otherwise under these agencies’ jurisdiction.
Beneficiaries and regulated parties:
- Benefits hunters, recreational shooters, and anglers by preserving access to lead-based gear on most federal lands and waters.
- Constrains federal land and wildlife managers’ ability to impose broad, preventive, or nationwide lead bans not tied to specific species or locations.
- Indirectly affects ammunition and tackle manufacturers and retailers by stabilizing demand for lead products on federal lands.
Timelines:
- Provisions take effect upon enactment.
- Applies prospectively to new or revised restrictions; existing rules may need to be reassessed if inconsistent, though the bill does not spell out a formal review schedule.
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
