Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016

H.R. 2822 is a budget bill designed to fund the Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and several related agencies for the 2016 fiscal year. The bill would provide the necessary money to operate national parks, manage public lands, and support the Indian Health Service, while also funding cultural institutions like the Smithsonian and the National Endowment for the Arts.

For everyday citizens, the bill’s primary impact lies in how it balances environmental protection with economic activity. It includes specific provisions that would prevent the government from increasing certain regulations on greenhouse gas emissions, water quality definitions, and the use of lead in ammunition or fishing tackle. Additionally, the bill would affect outdoor recreation by extending authority for certain entrance fees and prohibiting the use of funds to restrict hunting or fishing on federal lands except for public safety reasons.