On Thursday, July 13th the House Appropriations Interior Subcommittee held a markup on the Interior Appropriations bill. The bill was reported favorably out of the subcommittee and will now come before the full Committee on Appropriations. SCI members – and all hunters and anglers – have a lot to celebrate in the FY24 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. It protects public hunting access, stops bans on the most commonly used ammunition and recognizes the gray wolf population as being recovered. Safari Club International thanks Chairman Mike Simpson and members of the Appropriations Committee for listening to hunters. SCI will work to ensure these pro-hunting provisions are included in the final legislation.
Limits Abuse of the Endangered Species Act
- Strengthens the limitation on listing sage grouse to include bi-state population.
- Prohibits the introduction of bison in the Charles M. Russell Wildlife Refuge.
- Prohibits the listing of the lesser prairie-chicken.
- Requires the Department of the Interior to reissue the 2020 rule delisting the gray wolf.
- Prohibits the up-listing of the northern long-eared bat.
- Prohibits introduction of the grizzly bear in the North Cascades Ecosystem.
Protects Hunting, Fishing, and Recreational Access
- Prohibits the regulation of lead content in ammunition and fishing tackle.
- Blocks restrictions on hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting on Federal lands.
- Improves the Department of the Interior cost recovery processes for special recreation permits on federal lands.
