H.R. 556House119th Congress (2025-2027)Passed House

Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act

Introduced January 16, 2025

AI-Generated Summary

Updated March 21, 2026 at 4:31 AM UTC

The Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act bars the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture from banning lead ammunition or fishing tackle on federal lands and waters that are open to hunting or fishing. It only allows such bans on a specific site if a decline in wildlife is shown to be caused by lead and the action aligns with state wildlife laws or policies. The bill also requires a public notice explaining any site‑specific restrictions.

Key Provisions

  • Prohibits the Interior and Agriculture secretaries from forbidding lead ammo or tackle on any federal land or water used for hunting or fishing, except as limited by existing regulations.
  • Allows a site‑specific ban or regulation only if wildlife decline on that unit is primarily due to lead, and the action is consistent with the state’s wildlife laws, policies, or approved by the state’s fish and wildlife department.
  • Requires the responsible secretary to publish a Federal Register notice describing how the site‑specific restriction meets the above conditions.

Legislative Activity

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21 earlier actions
SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

March 19, 2026

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

January 16, 2025

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

January 16, 2025

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture.

February 20, 2025

HouseCommittee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

July 15, 2025

HouseCommittee

Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 23 - 17.

July 15, 2025

HouseCommittee

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-385, Part I.

November 25, 2025

HouseCommittee

Committee on Agriculture discharged.

November 25, 2025

HouseCalendars

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 335.

November 25, 2025

HouseFloor

Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1115 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 556, H.R. 1958 and H.R. 4638. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 556, H.R. 1958, and H.R. 4638 under a closed rule. The resolution provides for one hour of general debate and one motion to recommit on each bill.

March 16, 2026 • 5:52 PM

HouseFloor

Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1115. (consideration: CR H2576-2580)

March 18, 2026 • 2:20 PM

HouseFloor

Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 556, H.R. 1958 and H.R. 4638. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 556, H.R. 1958, and H.R. 4638 under a closed rule. The resolution provides for one hour of general debate and one motion to recommit on each bill.

March 18, 2026 • 2:20 PM

HouseFloor

DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 556.

March 18, 2026 • 2:21 PM

HouseFloor

The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

March 18, 2026 • 2:51 PM

HouseFloor

Mrs. Dingell moved to recommit to the Committee on Natural Resources. (text: CR H2580)

March 18, 2026 • 2:52 PM

HouseFloor

The previous question on the motion to recommit was ordered pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XIX.

March 18, 2026 • 2:52 PM

HouseFloor

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on H.R. 556, the Chair put the question on the motion to recommit and by voice vote, announced the noes had prevailed. Mrs. Dingell demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.

March 18, 2026 • 2:52 PM

HouseFloor

Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2581-2582)

March 18, 2026 • 4:46 PM

HouseFloor

On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 206 - 209 (Roll no. 92).

March 18, 2026 • 5:14 PM

HouseFloor

Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 215 - 202 (Roll no. 93). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H2576)

March 18, 2026 • 5:21 PM

HouseFloor

On passage Passed by recorded vote: 215 - 202 (Roll no. 93). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H2576)

March 18, 2026 • 5:21 PM

HouseFloor

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

March 18, 2026 • 5:21 PM

SenateIntro Referral

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

March 19, 2026

Floor Debate

11 members

What members said about H.R. 556 on the floor

6 Republicans5 Democrats
James P. McGovern
Rep. James P. McGovernD-MA-2 · Mar 17, 2026

Mr. Speaker, happy St. Patrick's Day to everybody. I thank the gentlewoman from North Carolina, the distinguished chairwoman of the Rules Committee, for whom I have much admiration and respect, for…

Bruce Westerman
Rep. Bruce WestermanR-AR-4 · Mar 18, 2026

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1115, I call up the bill (H.R. 556) to prohibit the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture from prohibiting the use of lead ammunition or…

Virginia Foxx
Rep. Virginia FoxxR-NC-5 · Mar 17, 2026

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 1115 and ask for its immediate consideration. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30…

Jared Huffman
Rep. Jared HuffmanD-CA-2 · Mar 18, 2026

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, we are on day 19 of Trump's illegal war of choice with Iran. So far, 13 American servicemembers are dead, and 200 more are…

Monica De La Cruz
Rep. Monica De La CruzR-TX-15 · May 6, 2025

Under clause 7 of rule XII, sponsors were added to public bills and resolutions, as follows: H.R. 116: Ms. Boebert. H.R. 151: Ms. Van Duyne. H.R. 255: Mr. Gill of Texas, Mr. Self, and Ms. Crockett.…

Show 8 more
Robert J. Wittman
Rep. Robert J. WittmanR-VA-1 · Mar 18, 2026

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Westerman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 556, the Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act. This legislation safeguards the…

Debbie Dingell
Rep. Debbie DingellD-MI-6 · Mar 18, 2026

Mr. Speaker, as a former chair and proud member of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus, I have worked tirelessly to defend our public lands and wildlife for the benefit of all outdoor enthusiasts. I…

Rosa L. DeLauro
Rep. Rosa L. DeLauroD-CT-3 · Mar 17, 2026

Madam Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding. Madam Speaker, last Friday, workers across the Department of Homeland Security missed a full paycheck. Reports have shown that a number of TSA…

David J. Taylor
Rep. David J. TaylorR-OH-2 · Mar 17, 2026

Madam Speaker, I thank Chairwoman Foxx for yielding the time. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of this rule which provides consideration of my bill, the Deporting Fraudsters Act. A few weeks…

Addison P. McDowell
Rep. Addison P. McDowellR-NC-6 · Mar 17, 2026

Mr. Speaker, from the massive fraud uncovered in Minnesota to schemes across this country, criminal networks are targeting American programs and treating taxpayers like an ATM. These are hard-earned…

J. Luis Correa
Rep. J. Luis CorreaD-CA-46 · Mar 18, 2026

Mr. Speaker, on March 17, 2026, I was necessarily absent and missed the following votes on the House Floor. Had I been present, I would have voted accordingly below: YES on Roll Call No. 88, H.R.…

James P. McGovern
Rep. James P. McGovernD-MA-2 · Mar 17, 2026

Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Jared Huffman
Rep. Jared HuffmanD-CA-2 · Mar 18, 2026

Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Bill Text

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Latest
Referred in SenateIssued March 19, 2026

IIB

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 556

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

March 19, 2026

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works

AN ACT

To prohibit the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture from prohibiting the use of lead ammunition or tackle on certain Federal land or water under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act.

2.

Protecting access for hunters and anglers on federal land and water

(a)

In general

Except as provided in section 20.21 or 20.108 of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act), and subsection (b), the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service or the Director of the Bureau of Land Management, and the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service (referred to in this section as the applicable Secretary), may not—

(1)

prohibit the use of lead ammunition or tackle on Federal land or water that is—

(A)

under the jurisdiction of the applicable Secretary; and

(B)

made available for hunting or fishing activities; or

(2)

issue regulations relating to the level of lead in ammunition or tackle to be used on Federal land or water described in paragraph (1).

(b)

Exception

Subsection (a) shall not apply to a prohibition or regulations described in that subsection that are limited to a specific unit of Federal land or water, if the applicable Secretary determines that—

(1)

a decline in wildlife population at the specific unit of Federal land or water is primarily caused by the use of lead in ammunition or tackle, based on the field data from the specific unit of Federal land or water; and

(2)

the prohibition or regulations, as applicable, are—

(A)

consistent with the law of the State in which the specific Federal land or water is located;

(B)

consistent with an applicable policy of the fish and wildlife department of the State in which the specific Federal land or water is located; or

(C)

approved by the applicable fish and wildlife department of the State in which the specific Federal land or water is located.

(c)

Federal Register notice

The applicable Secretary shall include in a Federal Register notice with respect to any prohibition or regulations that meet the requirements of paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (b) an explanation of how the prohibition or regulations, as applicable, meet those requirements.

Passed the House of Representatives March 18, 2026.

Kevin F. McCumber,

Clerk.