Press Releases

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Jason Smith (R-MO) introduced an amendment to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) funding bill to remove controversial and partisan language that was added by House Democrats at the expense of Missouri sportsmen.  

On the last full day of the Obama-Biden administration, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued a “Director’s Order,” setting in place an almost total ban on the use of lead ammunition and tackle on federal lands. Thankfully, less than two months into his Presidency—and after Congressman Smith led upwards of 60 Republican and Democrat lawmakers in imploring him to restore the former longstanding bipartisan policy— President Trump repealed the previous administration’s rule. Yet this year, House Democrats are trying to use the EPA funding bill to implement a new ban on lead ammunition and tackle.

Congressman Smith said he hoped that his amendment would not be necessary given the fact that this policy of allowing sportsmen to use lead ammunition and tackle has long enjoyed bipartisan support. Unfortunately, he said the radical environmental policies of the Democrats in Washington left him no choice but to stand up for the outdoorsmen he represents in southern Missouri. 

“The Obama-Biden administration’s midnight rule was a slap in the face to Missourians who wanted to take their shotgun shells to hunt in the Mark Twain National Forest or their fishing sinkers with them to fish at Clearwater Lake,” said Congressman Smith. “Thankfully, after leading 60 Members of Congress to urge President Trump to abolish this regulation, his administration quickly repealed this burdensome rule. It was one of countless actions taken by the President and his administration to repeal the regulatory machine of the Obama-Biden administration.”

“Unfortunately, even after the President’s actions and additional legislative steps by Congress, Democrats in Washington decided to jettison yet another long standing bipartisan policy agreement,” Smith continued. “That’s why I introduced my amendment to protect the rights of sportsmen to access public land for recreational purposes—something that once enjoyed broad bipartisan support. Yet, instead of voting for sportsmen and fisherman alike, the Left voted in support of a ban on ammunition and tackle based on partisan politics and not the scientific reality.”

Congressman Smith’s amendment failed by a vote of 187 yeas to 230 nays. The overall funding bill did clear the U.S. House of Representatives and now heads to the U.S. Senate for further consideration.