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MAWS Act of 2026

USA119th CongressHR-4294| House 
| Updated: 3/18/2026
Sarah Elfreth

Sarah Elfreth

Democratic Representative

Maryland

Cosponsors (10)
Paul A. Gosar (Republican)April McClain Delaney (Democratic)Celeste Maloy (Republican)Steny H. Hoyer (Democratic)Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (Democratic)Robert J. Wittman (Republican)Glenn Ivey (Democratic)Johnny Olszewski (Democratic)Kweisi Mfume (Democratic)Jennifer A. Kiggans (Republican)

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.

Bill Text Versions

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3 versions available

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Timeline
Jul 7, 2025
Introduced in House
Jul 7, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Jul 16, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries.
Jul 22, 2025
Subcommittee Hearings 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.
Jan 22, 2026
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
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.
Mar 16, 2026
Mr. Wittman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Mar 16, 2026
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2516-2519; text: CR H2516-2517)
Mar 16, 2026
Considered under suspension of the rules.
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 17, 2026
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2545)
Mar 17, 2026
Considered as unfinished business.
Mar 17, 2026
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).
View Vote
Mar 17, 2026
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Mar 18, 2026
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  • July 7, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • July 7, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.


  • July 16, 2025
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries.


  • July 22, 2025
    Subcommittee Hearings Held


  • January 22, 2026
    Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Discharged


  • January 22, 2026
    Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.


  • January 22, 2026
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held


  • February 23, 2026
    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 436.


  • February 23, 2026
    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-510.


  • March 16, 2026
    Mr. Wittman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.


  • March 16, 2026
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2516-2519; text: CR H2516-2517)


  • March 16, 2026
    Considered under suspension of the rules.


  • March 16, 2026
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4294.


  • March 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.


  • March 17, 2026
    Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2545)


  • March 17, 2026
    Considered as unfinished business.


  • March 17, 2026
    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).
    View Vote


  • March 17, 2026
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • March 18, 2026
    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.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
3 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Jul 7, 2025
Introduced in House
Jul 7, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Jul 16, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries.
Jul 22, 2025
Subcommittee Hearings 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.
Jan 22, 2026
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
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.
Mar 16, 2026
Mr. Wittman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Mar 16, 2026
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2516-2519; text: CR H2516-2517)
Mar 16, 2026
Considered under suspension of the rules.
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 17, 2026
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2545)
Mar 17, 2026
Considered as unfinished business.
Mar 17, 2026
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).
View Vote
Mar 17, 2026
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Mar 18, 2026
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  • July 7, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • July 7, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.


  • July 16, 2025
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries.


  • July 22, 2025
    Subcommittee Hearings Held


  • January 22, 2026
    Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Discharged


  • January 22, 2026
    Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.


  • January 22, 2026
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held


  • February 23, 2026
    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 436.


  • February 23, 2026
    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-510.


  • March 16, 2026
    Mr. Wittman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.


  • March 16, 2026
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2516-2519; text: CR H2516-2517)


  • March 16, 2026
    Considered under suspension of the rules.


  • March 16, 2026
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4294.


  • March 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.


  • March 17, 2026
    Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2545)


  • March 17, 2026
    Considered as unfinished business.


  • March 17, 2026
    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).
    View Vote


  • March 17, 2026
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • March 18, 2026
    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Sarah Elfreth

Sarah Elfreth

Democratic Representative

Maryland

Cosponsors (10)
Paul A. Gosar (Republican)April McClain Delaney (Democratic)Celeste Maloy (Republican)Steny H. Hoyer (Democratic)Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (Democratic)Robert J. Wittman (Republican)Glenn Ivey (Democratic)Johnny Olszewski (Democratic)Kweisi Mfume (Democratic)Jennifer A. Kiggans (Republican)

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