Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee, Natural Resources Committee
Introduced
In Committee
On Floor
Passed Chamber
Enacted
The Mitigation Action and Watermen Support Act of 2025 directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish a pilot program focused on the sale of blue catfish. This program aims to address the invasive blue catfish population within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed by facilitating their commercial harvest. It involves awarding funds to covered entities , which are businesses manufacturing or processing pet food, animal feed, or aquaculture feed. These awarded funds are specifically for purchasing blue catfish from watermen who caught them in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, or from seafood processors who acquired them from such watermen. The Secretary will determine a minimum purchase price per pound, considering market factors and feedback from participants, with up to 15 percent of the funds allowed for transportation costs. Watermen and processors must certify the origin of the blue catfish to ensure compliance with the program's scope. The pilot program is scheduled to operate from January 1, 2027, through December 31, 2029, with an authorized appropriation of $2,000,000 for each fiscal year. Upon its conclusion, the Secretary must submit a comprehensive report to Congress within 180 days. This report will detail the blue catfish population's size and diet, the program's economic impact on watermen, market response, and its effect on other species and the environment, along with policy recommendations for future expansion or continuation to other invasive aquatic species.
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Timeline
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries.
Subcommittee Hearings Held
Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Discharged
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 436.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-510.
Mr. Wittman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2516-2519; text: CR H2516-2517)
Considered under suspension of the rules.
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4294.
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.
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2545)
Considered as unfinished business.
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).
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries.
Subcommittee Hearings Held
Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Discharged
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 436.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-510.
Mr. Wittman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2516-2519; text: CR H2516-2517)
Considered under suspension of the rules.
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4294.
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.
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2545)
Considered as unfinished business.
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).
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Chesapeake BayCongressional oversightDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFishesFood industry and servicesFood supply, safety, and labelingMarine and coastal resources, fisheriesMarylandNew York StatePennsylvaniaSeafoodVirginiaWatershedsWest VirginiaWildlife conservation and habitat protection
MAWS Act of 2026
USA119th CongressHR-4294| House
| Updated: 3/18/2026
The Mitigation Action and Watermen Support Act of 2025 directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish a pilot program focused on the sale of blue catfish. This program aims to address the invasive blue catfish population within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed by facilitating their commercial harvest. It involves awarding funds to covered entities , which are businesses manufacturing or processing pet food, animal feed, or aquaculture feed. These awarded funds are specifically for purchasing blue catfish from watermen who caught them in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, or from seafood processors who acquired them from such watermen. The Secretary will determine a minimum purchase price per pound, considering market factors and feedback from participants, with up to 15 percent of the funds allowed for transportation costs. Watermen and processors must certify the origin of the blue catfish to ensure compliance with the program's scope. The pilot program is scheduled to operate from January 1, 2027, through December 31, 2029, with an authorized appropriation of $2,000,000 for each fiscal year. Upon its conclusion, the Secretary must submit a comprehensive report to Congress within 180 days. This report will detail the blue catfish population's size and diet, the program's economic impact on watermen, market response, and its effect on other species and the environment, along with policy recommendations for future expansion or continuation to other invasive aquatic species.
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Timeline
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries.
Subcommittee Hearings Held
Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Discharged
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 436.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-510.
Mr. Wittman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2516-2519; text: CR H2516-2517)
Considered under suspension of the rules.
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4294.
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.
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2545)
Considered as unfinished business.
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).
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries.
Subcommittee Hearings Held
Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Discharged
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 436.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-510.
Mr. Wittman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2516-2519; text: CR H2516-2517)
Considered under suspension of the rules.
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4294.
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.
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2545)
Considered as unfinished business.
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).
Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee, Natural Resources Committee
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Introduced
In Committee
On Floor
Passed Chamber
Enacted
Chesapeake BayCongressional oversightDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFishesFood industry and servicesFood supply, safety, and labelingMarine and coastal resources, fisheriesMarylandNew York StatePennsylvaniaSeafoodVirginiaWatershedsWest VirginiaWildlife conservation and habitat protection