WHAT THE LAW DOINCongress, in plain words

H.R. 556 · 119th Congress

Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act

Passed HousePublic Lands and Natural Resources
IntroducedJan 16, 2025
Passed HouseMar 18, 2026
Passed SenateNot yet
To PresidentNot yet
Became lawNot yet

Where it stands

Passed House. Latest step, Mar 19, 2026: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. The House passed it 215–202. It would change 0 sections of existing law and would add 1 new provisions of its own.

How this bill changes the law

Sourced

H.R. 556 doesn't change any existing section of law. It would create 1 new provision of its own. Read from the bill text as sent to the Senate (Mar 19, 2026).

New provisions of the bill's own

  • Sec. 2 Protecting access for hunters and anglers on federal land and water
What the words would change: every change, in place (0)

Today's wording of each part of the law, with what would be struck out and added. Each change also gives the bill's own instruction, word for word.

    From the bill's official text on GovInfo and the U.S. Code, latest edition, which may not yet show changes made since.

    What it does

    Sourced

    Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act of 2025

    This bill bars the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and the Forest Service from prohibiting or regulating the use of lead ammunition or tackle on federal land or water. The bill makes exceptions for specified existing regulations and where the FWS, the BLM, or the Forest Service determines that 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 such unit, and the state approves the regulations.

    Official summary by the Congressional Research Service (Introduced in House, Jan 16, 2025).

    Our plain-language breakdown, with what it means for you and the case for and against, is written once a bill starts to move.

    What has happened

    Sourced
    1. Mar 18, 2026Passed/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) Roll call recordLibrary of Congress
    2. Nov 25, 2025Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-385, Part I.Library of Congress
    3. Jan 16, 2025Introduced in HouseLibrary of Congress

    Show all 26 recorded actions

    Recorded votes

    Sourced
    1. Mar 18, 2026 · HousePassed 215–202
      On Passage · needed a majority
      R 208 yes, 1 noD 7 yes, 201 noEach member · Record
    1 other recorded vote (procedure and amendments)
    1. Mar 18, 2026 · HouseFailed 206–209
      On Motion to Recommit · needed a majority
      R 0 yes, 209 noD 206 yes, 0 noEach member · Record

    Cosponsors

    • Brian Babin R-TX-36
    • Troy Balderson R-OH-12
    • Aaron Bean R-FL-4
    • Jack Bergman R-MI-1
    • Andy Biggs R-AZ-5
    • Sheri Biggs R-SC-3
    • Lauren Boebert R-CO-4
    • Mike Bost R-IL-12
    • Ken Calvert R-CA-41
    • Earl L. "Buddy" Carter R-GA-1
    • John R. Carter R-TX-31
    • Ben Cline R-VA-6
    Show 71 more cosponsors
    • Jeff Crank R-CO-5
    • Dan Crenshaw R-TX-2
    • Monica De La Cruz R-TX-15
    • Scott DesJarlais R-TN-4
    • Byron Donalds R-FL-19
    • Troy Downing R-MT-2
    • Chuck Edwards R-NC-11
    • Ron Estes R-KS-4
    • Gabe Evans R-CO-8
    • Pat Fallon R-TX-4
    • Brad Finstad R-MN-1
    • Michelle Fischbach R-MN-7
    • Scott Fitzgerald R-WI-5
    • Charles J. "Chuck" Fleischmann R-TN-3
    • Russell Fry R-SC-7
    • Russ Fulcher R-ID-1
    • Paul A. Gosar R-AZ-9
    • Glenn Grothman R-WI-6
    • Michael Guest R-MS-3
    • Harriet M. Hageman R-WY-At Large
    • Abraham J. Hamadeh R-AZ-8
    • Pat Harrigan R-NC-10
    • Mark Harris R-NC-8
    • Ashley Hinson R-IA-2
    • Richard Hudson R-NC-9
    • Jeff Hurd R-CO-3
    • Ronny Jackson R-TX-13
    • Dusty Johnson R-SD-At Large
    • Jennifer A. Kiggans R-VA-2
    • David Kustoff R-TN-8
    • Nicholas A. Langworthy R-NY-23
    • Robert E. Latta R-OH-5
    • Julia Letlow R-LA-5
    • Tracey Mann R-KS-1
    • Tom McClintock R-CA-5
    • Addison P. McDowell R-NC-6
    • John J. McGuire III R-VA-5
    • Mark B. Messmer R-IN-8
    • Max L. Miller R-OH-7
    • Mariannette Miller-Meeks R-IA-1
    • John R. Moolenaar R-MI-2
    • Barry Moore R-AL-1
    • Tim Moore R-NC-14
    • Gregory F. Murphy R-NC-3
    • Troy E. Nehls R-TX-22
    • Dan Newhouse R-WA-4
    • Ralph Norman R-SC-5
    • Burgess Owens R-UT-4
    • August Pfluger R-TX-11
    • Mike Rogers R-AL-3
    • Chip Roy R-TX-21
    • Michael A. Rulli R-OH-6
    • John H. Rutherford R-FL-5
    • Austin Scott R-GA-8
    • Keith Self R-TX-3
    • Pete Sessions R-TX-17
    • Pete Stauber R-MN-8
    • Elise M. Stefanik R-NY-21
    • W. Gregory Steube R-FL-17
    • Claudia Tenney R-NY-24
    • Glenn Thompson R-PA-15
    • Thomas P. Tiffany R-WI-7
    • Beth Van Duyne R-TX-24
    • Ann Wagner R-MO-2
    • Tim Walberg R-MI-5
    • Randy K. Weber, Sr. R-TX-14
    • Daniel Webster R-FL-11
    • Tony Wied R-WI-8
    • Roger Williams R-TX-25
    • Steve Womack R-AR-3
    • Ryan K. Zinke R-MT-1