March 18, 2026 (Washington, D.C.) – This week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed four legislative priorities for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF): the Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act, the Mitigation Action and Watermen Support (MAWS) Act of 2026, the Post-Disaster Reforestation and Restoration Act of 2025, and the Save Our Sequoias (SOS) Act. Thanks to the active work of Members of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC), the 119th Congress continues to deliver meaningful wins for America’s sporting community.
Earlier today, the Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act (H.R. 556), led by CSC Member Rep. Rob Wittman, passed on a bipartisan vote. Additionally, the MAWS Act (H.R. 4294), led by Rep. Sarah Elfreth and Rep. Rob Wittman, passed the House on an overwhelming vote of 320-66 on March 17. The Post-Disaster Reforestation and Restoration Act of 2025 (H.R. 528), led by Rep. Brittany Pettersen and CSC Member Rep. Chuck Edwards, and the SOS Act (H.R. 2709), led by Rep. Vince Fong, Rep. Scott Peters, and CSC Co-Chairs Rep. Bruce Westerman and Rep. Jimmy Panetta, both cleared the House earlier in the week on voice votes.
“CSF thanks the Members of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus for leading bipartisan efforts to advance critical legislation for hunters and anglers,” said CSF Senior Vice President Taylor Schmitz. “From protecting access to public lands and waters to addressing invasive species in the Chesapeake Bay to restoring forests after natural disasters and strengthening wildfire resilience for iconic landscapes, these bills represent meaningful progress for conservation and outdoor traditions. We look forward to working with CSC Members in the Senate to send this legislation to the President’s desk.”
Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act
The Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act would require certain science-based triggers to be met prior to banning the use of any lead ammunition or fishing tackle on lands and waters managed by the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior. This legislation does not prevent federal or state governments from placing site-specific prohibitions on the use of traditional ammunition or tackle. However, any proposed ban must follow a scientific process and be consistent and approved by the respective state fish and wildlife agency.
MAWS Act
The Mitigation Action and Waterman Support Act directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish a pilot program that adds an additional market pathway as a tool for controlling invasive blue catfish harvested from the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The program will support partnerships with seafood processors and the pet food and animal feed industries to expand utilization of this invasive species. The rapid expansion of invasive blue catfish in the Chesapeake Bay poses a serious threat to native species and the broader ecosystem, placing additional pressure on already stressed fisheries and iconic recreational and commercial resources like striped bass, red drum, blue crab, and oysters
Post-Disaster Reforestation and Restoration Act
The Post-Disaster Reforestation and Restoration Act of 2025 will support reforestation and restoration on federal and Tribal forest lands after “unplanned disturbances.” Recent wildfires, hurricanes, and other natural disasters underscore the need for proactive coordination to restore forests, including artificial regeneration, to support community recovery. The legislation will help the U.S. Forest Service address its extensive reforestation backlog. A similar provision was included in the Fix Our Forests Act (H.R. 471), which passed the House in January 2025 with strong bipartisan support.
SOS Act
The SOS Act will increase coordination among federal, state, Tribal, and local governments to restore forest health in giant sequoia groves. Limited in distribution to roughly 70 sites in California, this fire-adapted iconic species is increasingly threatened by stand-replacing fires due to a lack of active forest management. The legislation will increase giant sequoia resilience to high-severity wildfires by reducing hazardous fuel loads and supporting the reforestation of stands destroyed by wildfires. Similar versions of the legislation were introduced in the last two Congresses.
CSF appreciates the dedication of the CSC Leadership and Members, as well as the other bill sponsors, for continuing to champion legislation that supports science-based natural resource management and improves access for sportsmen and women.