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HR 4294 119th Congress House Public Lands and Natural Resources Chesapeake Bay Congressional oversight Delaware District of Columbia Fishes Food industry and services Food supply, safety, and labeling Marine and coastal resources, fisheries Maryland New York State Pennsylvania Seafood Virginia Watersheds West Virginia Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

MAWS Act of 2026

Introduced: January 16, 2026 Introduced by: Elfreth, Sarah Democratic · Maryland See on congress.gov
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 Everywhere this bill has been 17 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 18, 2026
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Mar 17, 2026
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 320 - 66 (Roll no. 88).
Mar 17, 2026
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Mar 17, 2026
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2545)
Mar 16, 2026
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2516-2519; text: CR H2516-2517)
Mar 16, 2026
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
Mar 16, 2026
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4294.
Mar 16, 2026
Mr. Wittman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Feb 23, 2026
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-510.
Feb 23, 2026
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 436.
Jan 22, 2026
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Jan 22, 2026
Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Discharged
Jan 22, 2026
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
Jul 22, 2025
Subcommittee Hearings Held
Jul 16, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries.
Jul 7, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Jul 7, 2025
Introduced in House
 Votes taken on this bill 1
DateChamberWhat was voted onResultYes–No
Mar 17, 2026 House · vote #88 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended Passed 320–66 See who voted →
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Mitigation Action and Watermen Support Act of 2026 or the MAWS Act of 2026

This bill requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish a pilot program to facilitate the purchase of blue catfish caught within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. (Blue catfish are considered an invasive species in the Chesapeake Bay.)

Under the program, NOAA must enter into cooperative agreements with manufacturers or processors of pet food, animal feed, or aquaculture feed for the purchase of blue catfish from watermen and seafood processors. NOAA must determine the minimum price per pound after considering market factors; feedback from watermen, seafood processors, and participants in the program; and differentiation of price points for fillet and byproduct. 

The bill also requires NOAA to enter into a memorandum of understanding with nonfederal partners to develop abundance estimates of blue catfish in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. NOAA must make the first abundance estimate publicly available before beginning the pilot program. 

What's happening now March 18, 2026

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

 Hearings & markups 2
 Bill text 4 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
 Lobbying activity 7

Registered lobbyists who named this bill in their disclosure filings. Source: federal Lobbying Disclosure Act filings.

See all 7 filings →
 Cosponsors 10
All 10 Democratic 6 Republican 4
R
Gosar, Paul A.
Arizona · Jan 16, 2026
 R
Maloy, Celeste
Utah · Jan 15, 2026
 D
Scott, Robert C. "Bobby"
Virginia · Aug 1, 2025
 D
Mfume, Kweisi
Maryland · Jul 22, 2025
 D
Olszewski, Johnny
Maryland · Jul 17, 2025
 D
Ivey, Glenn
Maryland · Jul 16, 2025
 D
McClain Delaney, April
Maryland · Jul 16, 2025
 D
Hoyer, Steny H.
Maryland · Jul 7, 2025
 R
Kiggans, Jennifer A.
Virginia · Jul 7, 2025
 R
Wittman, Robert J.
Virginia · Jul 7, 2025
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4294: MAWS Act of 2026. 119th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-4294/
MLA
"H.R. 4294: MAWS Act of 2026." 119th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-4294/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4294, 119th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-4294/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4294: MAWS Act of 2026](https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-4294/)
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