HR556119th Congress

Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act

Sponsored By: Representative Wittman

In Committee

Summary

Protects the use of lead ammunition and fishing tackle on federal lands and waters while allowing narrow, local bans when specific on-the-ground data links lead to wildlife declines and a state wildlife agency signs off.

Show full summary
  • Hunters and anglers: Lets people keep using lead ammo and tackle on federal land or water open to hunting or fishing, except in tightly defined local units.
  • Federal land managers: Stops the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture from broadly banning lead gear or setting lead-level standards, with carve-outs tied to existing rules in 50 CFR 20.21 and 20.108.
  • State fish and wildlife agencies and states: Gives states a key role for unit-level restrictions. A local ban must be consistent with state law or policy or be approved by the state agency and must rely on field data from that unit showing lead is the primary cause of a wildlife decline.
  • Public transparency: Requires the relevant Secretary to publish an explanation in the Federal Register showing how any unit-specific prohibition meets the law's criteria.

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Limits federal bans on lead ammo and tackle

This bill would stop Interior and Agriculture from broadly banning lead ammo or tackle, or setting lead-level standards, on federal lands and waters open to hunting or fishing. Hunters and anglers could keep using lead gear there, unless a ban is limited to one specific site. A site ban would be allowed only if field data from that site show wildlife are declining mainly because of lead, and the action follows state law, matches state wildlife policy, or is approved by the state wildlife agency. The Secretary would have to explain in the Federal Register how these tests are met. Current exceptions in 50 C.F.R. 20.21 and 20.108 would remain, and this would take effect upon enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Wittman

VA • R

Cosponsors

  • McGuire

    VA • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • Weber (TX)

    TX • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • Scott, Austin

    GA • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • De La Cruz

    TX • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • Wagner

    MO • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • Bean (FL)

    FL • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • Tenney

    NY • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • Calvert

    CA • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • Zinke

    MT • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • Stauber

    MN • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • Edwards

    NC • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • Norman

    SC • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • McClintock

    CA • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • Guest

    MS • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • Thompson (PA)

    PA • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • Moolenaar

    MI • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • Rogers (AL)

    AL • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • Webster (FL)

    FL • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • Finstad

    MN • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • Murphy

    NC • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • Newhouse

    WA • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • Walberg

    MI • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • Moore (AL)

    AL • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • Biggs (AZ)

    AZ • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • Kiggans (VA)

    VA • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • Fulcher

    ID • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • Bost

    IL • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • Hudson

    NC • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • Hageman

    WY • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • Boebert

    CO • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • Cline

    VA • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • Carter (GA)

    GA • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • Tiffany

    WI • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • Williams (TX)

    TX • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • Bergman

    MI • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • Balderson

    OH • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • Messmer

    IN • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • Fischbach

    MN • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • Fitzgerald

    WI • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • Letlow

    LA • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • Fleischmann

    TN • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • Gosar

    AZ • R

    Sponsored 1/21/2025

  • Owens

    UT • R

    Sponsored 1/21/2025

  • Self

    TX • R

    Sponsored 1/21/2025

  • Carter (TX)

    TX • R

    Sponsored 1/21/2025

  • Grothman

    WI • R

    Sponsored 1/21/2025

  • Biggs (SC)

    SC • R

    Sponsored 1/21/2025

  • Fallon

    TX • R

    Sponsored 1/28/2025

  • Hurd (CO)

    CO • R

    Sponsored 1/28/2025

  • Langworthy

    NY • R

    Sponsored 1/28/2025

  • Babin

    TX • R

    Sponsored 1/28/2025

  • Moore (NC)

    NC • R

    Sponsored 1/28/2025

  • Womack

    AR • R

    Sponsored 1/28/2025

  • McDowell

    NC • R

    Sponsored 1/28/2025

  • Estes

    KS • R

    Sponsored 1/28/2025

  • Rutherford

    FL • R

    Sponsored 1/28/2025

  • Fry

    SC • R

    Sponsored 1/28/2025

  • Johnson (SD)

    SD • R

    Sponsored 2/7/2025

  • Kustoff

    TN • R

    Sponsored 2/7/2025

  • Rulli

    OH • R

    Sponsored 2/7/2025

  • Donalds

    FL • R

    Sponsored 2/7/2025

  • Mann

    KS • R

    Sponsored 2/7/2025

  • Hinson

    IA • R

    Sponsored 2/7/2025

  • Sessions

    TX • R

    Sponsored 3/21/2025

  • Harrigan

    NC • R

    Sponsored 4/10/2025

  • Stefanik

    NY • R

    Sponsored 4/17/2025

  • Wied

    WI • R

    Sponsored 5/6/2025

  • Downing

    MT • R

    Sponsored 5/15/2025

  • Hamadeh (AZ)

    AZ • R

    Sponsored 5/15/2025

  • Crank

    CO • R

    Sponsored 5/19/2025

  • Latta

    OH • R

    Sponsored 5/19/2025

  • Crenshaw

    TX • R

    Sponsored 6/3/2025

  • Van Duyne

    TX • R

    Sponsored 6/5/2025

  • Pfluger

    TX • R

    Sponsored 6/9/2025

  • Steube

    FL • R

    Sponsored 6/27/2025

  • Miller-Meeks

    IA • R

    Sponsored 8/1/2025

  • Harris (NC)

    NC • R

    Sponsored 8/29/2025

  • DesJarlais

    TN • R

    Sponsored 8/29/2025

  • Evans (CO)

    CO • R

    Sponsored 8/29/2025

  • Jackson (TX)

    TX • R

    Sponsored 9/8/2025

  • Miller (OH)

    OH • R

    Sponsored 9/8/2025

  • Roy

    TX • R

    Sponsored 9/30/2025

  • Nehls

    TX • R

    Sponsored 10/6/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov

Related Bills

Back to Legislation

Take It Personal

Get Your Personalized Policy View

Create a free account to save research, track policy impacts, and unlock your personalized versions of these pages.

Already have an account? Sign in