Congress left Washington at the end of July for the traditional August recess setting the stage for a busy and difficult legislative sprint to the end of the calendar year. As Congress returns in early September, it will be consumed by the Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations process ahead of the September 30th deadline to fund the government. The House and Senate will have to work through difficult negotiations to pass a bill, and the possibility of a short- or long-term Continuing Resolution to maintain funding levels is high.
On July 19th, the House Appropriations Committee voted to approve the FY24 Interior Appropriations bill, including several new amendments. An amendment from Congressman Zinke will likely prevent the Administration from banning lead ammunition and fishing tackle on federal lands or waters for hunting or fishing activities unless certain conditions are met, and to delist the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) population of Grizzly Bears under the Endangered Species Act, respectively. SCI strongly supports the passage of this bill with the associated amendments.
