PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.
H.R.4489 / 115th Congress

ACCESS Act

Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Nov 30, 2017

Authorizing Critical Conservation and Enabling Sportsmen and Sportswomen Act or the ACCESS Act

This bill revises, reauthorizes, and establishes programs and entities regarding the conservation of wildlife and expanded access to hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting on federal lands.

The bill makes permanent the authorizations for: (1) the program for the sale and exchange of public lands identified for disposal under approved land use plans, and (2) the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.

Read full official summaryShow less

The bill revises requirements for appointment to the Board of Directors of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and reauthorizes the foundation through FY2022.

This bill reauthorizes through FY2022 the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program and the multinational species conservation funds.

The Department of the Interior shall convene a panel of experts on great apes to identify the greatest needs and priorities for their conservation.

Certain federal departments and agencies shall implement activities to protect water and wildlife to control invasive species on the lands which they manage.

The bill establishes Theodore Roosevelt Genius Prize competitions regarding wildlife related concerns.

The bill establishes the National Fish Habitat Board and provides for the designation of Fish Habitat Partnerships by it.

Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act

The bill amends the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act to facilitate the construction and expansion of public target ranges.

The bill declares that federal lands shall be open to hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting, unless closed in accordance with this bill.

Read the summary on Congress.gov
PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

Who introduced it

Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-5] · D–CA

Committees

  • Science, Space, and Technology Committee
  • Agriculture Committee
  • Natural Resources Committee
  • Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
  • Judiciary Committee
14 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

  1. Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment.

  2. Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.

  3. Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.

  4. Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans.

  5. Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.

  6. Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Science, Space, and Technology, the Judiciary, Agriculture, and Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  7. Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Science, Space, and Technology, the Judiciary, Agriculture, and Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  8. Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Science, Space, and Technology, the Judiciary, Agriculture, and Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  9. Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Science, Space, and Technology, the Judiciary, Agriculture, and Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  10. Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Science, Space, and Technology, the Judiciary, Agriculture, and Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  11. Introduced in House

  12. Introduced in House

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Aug 11, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.4489 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources
Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.4489 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources
Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.4489 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources
Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.4489 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources