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H.R. 4294 119th Congress House

MAWS Act of 2026

Official title: To direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish a pilot program with respect to the sale of blue catfish caught within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

Introduced: July 7, 2025 Introduced by: Sarah Elfreth Democratic · Maryland See on congress.gov
Public Lands and Natural Resources Chesapeake BayCongressional oversightDelawareDistrict of Columbia
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
FishesFood industry and servicesFood supply, safety, and labelingMarine and coastal resources, fisheriesMarylandNew York StatePennsylvaniaSeafoodVirginiaWatershedsWest VirginiaWildlife conservation and habitat protection
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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
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2545)
Mar 17, 2026
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Mar 16, 2026
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4294.
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
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2516-2519; text: CR H2516-2517)
Mar 16, 2026
Mr. Wittman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Feb 23, 2026
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 436.
Feb 23, 2026
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-510.
Jan 22, 2026
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
Jan 22, 2026
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Jan 22, 2026
Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Discharged
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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What's happening now March 18, 2026

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

 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. 

 Hearings & markups 2
 Bill text 4 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
 Lobbying activity 13

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

Bodies those filers lobbied

A filing lists the bills it worked on and the parts of government it contacted in separate sections, so these are the bodies those filers named anywhere in the filing, not a per-bill breakdown.

See all 13 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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