MAWS Act of 2026

Summary

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. 

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Timeline

1. 7 July 2025

   Introduced

   Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 7 July 2025

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 7 July 2025

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

4. 16 July 2025

   Referred

   Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries.

   Source: Committee

5. 22 July 2025

   Committee

   Subcommittee Hearings Held

   Source: Committee

6. 22 January 2026

   Reported

   Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.

   Source: Committee

7. 22 January 2026

   Committee

   Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

   Source: Committee

8. 22 January 2026

   Committee

   Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Discharged

   Source: Committee

9. 23 February 2026

   Calendars

   Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 436.

   Source: Calendars

10. 23 February 2026

    Reported

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-510.

    Source: Committee

11. 23 February 2026

    Reported

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-510.

    Source: Committee

12. 16 March 2026

    Vote

    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.

    Source: Floor

13. 16 March 2026

    Floor

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4294.

    Source: Floor

14. 16 March 2026

    Floor

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2516-2519; text: CR H2516-2517)

    Source: Floor

15. 16 March 2026

    Floor

    Mr. Wittman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

    Source: Floor

16. 17 March 2026

    Passed

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

    Source: Floor

17. 17 March 2026

    Vote

    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).

    Source: Floor

18. 17 March 2026

    Vote

    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).

    Source: Floor

19. 17 March 2026

    Floor

    Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2545)

    Source: Floor

20. 18 March 2026

    Introduced

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

    Source: IntroReferral

Votes

Versions

No version snapshots stored. Document URLs remain at the source.

Documents

5 official files

• Referred in Senate

  Referred in Senate · EN · 18 March 2026

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Engrossed in House

  Engrossed in House · EN · 17 March 2026

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

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• Reported in House

  Reported in House · EN · 23 February 2026

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• Reported to House

  summary · EN · 23 February 2026

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• Introduced in House

  Introduced in House · EN · 7 July 2025

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Sponsors

• Rep. Elfreth, Sarah [D-MD-3] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1] · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2] · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Hoyer, Steny H. [D-MD-5] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Ivey, Glenn [D-MD-4] · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6] · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. Olszewski, Johnny [D-MD-2] · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. Mfume, Kweisi [D-MD-7] · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3] · D · Cosponsor
• Celeste Maloy · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Gosar, Paul A. [R-AZ-9] · R · Cosponsor
• · sscm00 · Standing
• · hsii00 · Standing

Related records

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