Lawmakers in U.S. Congress will consider several fisheries provisions in the U.S. Department of the Interior budget bill, with each legislative body proposing different levels of funding for the National Fish Hatchery System, fish conservation, and stopping the spread of invasive species. Though currently on vacation, both the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate are in the midst of the fiscal year 2026 budget process, which involves passing several massive appropriations that offer varying levels of policy guidance to the federal government. Recently, both the House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Appropriations revealed and approved separate versions of an appropriations bill funding the Department of the Interior, which contained several fisheries provisions, mostly focused on the nation’s fish conservation and recovery efforts. 

Other environmental legislation and budget news:

• American Rivers: Blog: Key takeaways from the One Big Beautiful Bill​