The Fiscal 1996 Interior Appropriations Bill, H.R. 1977, contained a provision authored by Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA) that would circumvent the California Desert Protection Act of 1994 by appropriating $1.00 to the National Park Service to manage the new Mojave National Preserve. Instead, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) (which formerly received $1.5 million annually to manage the same area) would receive $599,999 to manage the Preserve. BLM, an agency with a different mission, would administer a National Park System unit and would be hindered in meeting demands such as law enforcement, visitor services and safety, and protection of the Preserve itself.

Rep. Vic Fazio (D-CA) offered an amendment to restore the $600,000 to the Park Service budget for managing the Mojave. On July 13, 1995, the House rejected the Fazio amendment 174 - 227. YES is the pro-environment vote.

President Clinton vetoed H.R. 1977 on December 18, 1995.