Explore The NRA Universe Of Websites

Rep. Wittman & Sen. Daines Reintroduce the Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act

Thursday, February 13, 2025

Rep. Wittman & Sen. Daines Reintroduce the Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act

U.S. Representative Rob Wittman (R-VA-01) recently reintroduced H.R. 556, the Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act. This bill would prohibit the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture from arbitrarily banning the use of traditional ammunition on federal land or water under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture.

“As a lifelong hunter and recreational fisherman, I was appalled by the Biden-Harris administration’s quest to restrict access for our nation’s sportsmen and women who use traditional lead fishing tackle and ammunition on federal lands and waters,” said Congressman Wittman. “We cannot allow a ridiculous ban like this to happen again. Effective environmental stewardship and wildlife conservation rely on the valuable contributions of our hunters and anglers, and affordable lead ammunition and tackle are crucial to reducing financial barriers that limit accessibility for sportsmen and women. I was proud to see this legislation pass the House last year, and I’m committed to securing its passage once again to advance it through the Senate and to the president’s desk.”

This NRA-supported legislation is in response to the former administration’s repeated attempts to limit Americans’ access to hunt and shoot on our federal lands. While Biden’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced a continuation of policies initiated under the Trump administration to expand opportunities on national wildlife refuges, the expansions under Biden would phase-out the use of traditional ammunition.

The push to ban lead ammo on various public lands is a contentious one for several reasons, and NRA-ILA has been involved in the fight against such a decision for decades. A ban on traditional ammunition would make hunting more difficult and more expensive for those who want to access these public lands. Additionally, those pushing lead ammunition bans are doing so without scientific data to back their claims, lacking the proof that shows lead ammunition is harming wildlife populations on public lands, including national wildlife refuges.

While the threat from the Biden Administration is in the rearview mirror, anti-hunting groups and gun control supporters continue to push for lead ammunition bans.  Rep. Wittman’s legislation would prevent future administrations from banning lead ammo with the stroke of a pen.

Alert Update:

On February 12, 2025, Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) introduced the Senate companion bill to H.R. 556, which would prohibit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) from banning the use of lead ammunition or tackle on public lands.

“The great outdoors is a staple of our Montana way of life. Montana hunters and anglers play an important role in wildlife management, and a ban on lead ammo and tackle would be unfair to our sportsmen. I’ll keep fighting with my colleagues to make sure decisions impacting outdoor recreation are guided by commonsense science, not anti-hunting groups,” said Senator Daines.

Senator Daines' bill has drawn wide support with 27 Senators signing on as original co-sponsors. Your NRA-ILA will continue to update you as this legislation works its way through the legislative process.

 

TRENDING NOW
Gun Control “Journalist” Says the Quiet Part Out Loud

News  

Monday, September 8, 2025

Gun Control “Journalist” Says the Quiet Part Out Loud

Pure gun control. As in disarmament and banning of firearms. It’s rare that anti-gunners get straight to the exact point that we have been warning of for decades. 

The Desperate Deflection to the “Red State Murder Problem”

News  

Monday, September 8, 2025

The Desperate Deflection to the “Red State Murder Problem”

California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) may have thought he had scored against President Donald Trump in a recent war of words over rampant crime and the deployment of federal law enforcement agents to Democratic-led cities

Due Process: The Backbone of Legal Legitimacy

News  

Monday, September 8, 2025

Due Process: The Backbone of Legal Legitimacy

Close observers of the gun debate often see references to due process.

Illinois: Governor Signs Mandatory Firearm Storage Law

Wednesday, September 3, 2025

Illinois: Governor Signs Mandatory Firearm Storage Law

Earlier this month, Governor JB Pritzker signed Senate Bill 8 into law. This legislation imposes new mandatory firearm storage requirements on law-abiding gun owners.  

Third Circuit Strikes Some New Jersey Carry Restrictions in NRA Case

Thursday, September 11, 2025

Third Circuit Strikes Some New Jersey Carry Restrictions in NRA Case

Yesterday, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals issued an opinion in Siegel v. Platkin, striking some of the carry restrictions New Jersey enacted in response to the NRA’s landmark Supreme Court victory, New York State Rifle & ...

Update: North Carolina House Reschedules Veto Override Vote

Tuesday, August 26, 2025

Update: North Carolina House Reschedules Veto Override Vote

Today, the House rescheduled the veto override vote on Senate Bill 50, Freedom to Carry NC, to Monday, September 22. 

Colorado: CSSA Files Suit Challenging "Polis Permission Slip" Permit-to-Purchase Law

Tuesday, September 9, 2025

Colorado: CSSA Files Suit Challenging "Polis Permission Slip" Permit-to-Purchase Law

Last week, the Colorado State Shooting Association (CSSA), the official state affiliate of NRA, filed a lawsuit challenging Senate Bill 25-003...

Florida: Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday Signed by Governor

Monday, July 7, 2025

Florida: Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday Signed by Governor

Governor Ron DeSantis recently signed the Florida Budget for Fiscal Year 2025–2026, which includes a Second Amendment sales tax holiday from September 8 through December 31, 2025. The NRA is thankful for Governor DeSantis’ strong ...

NRA Files Amicus Brief Urging SCOTUS to Hear Challenge to Washington’s Magazine Ban

Monday, September 8, 2025

NRA Files Amicus Brief Urging SCOTUS to Hear Challenge to Washington’s Magazine Ban

Today, the National Rifle Association filed an amicus brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to grant certiorari in a case challenging Washington State’s ban on firearm magazines that hold more than 10 rounds.

Grassroots Spotlight: Oklahoma Rifle Association Annual State Convention

Take Action  

Monday, September 8, 2025

Grassroots Spotlight: Oklahoma Rifle Association Annual State Convention

Each year, the Oklahoma Rifle Association (ORA), the NRA's State Association for Oklahoma, hosts its Annual State Convention in August. 

MORE TRENDING +
LESS TRENDING -

More Like This From Around The NRA

NRA ILA

Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the "lobbying" arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.