Bill Sponsor
House Bill 4294
119th Congress(2025-2026)
MAWS Act of 2026
Active
Active
Passed House on Mar 17, 2026
Overview
Text
Bill Intelligence

The "Mitigation Action and Watermen Support Act of 2026" introduces a Blue Catfish Pilot Program, amending the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Authorization Act of 1992. The program aims to address the issue of invasive blue catfish in certain water bodies and their impact on local ecosystems and watermen. The bill focuses on implementing measures to mitigate the spread and impact of blue catfish, particularly on local watermen and their livelihoods.

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Introduced
Jul 7, 2025
Latest Action
Mar 18, 2026
Origin Chamber
House
Type
Bill
Bill
The primary form of legislative measure used to propose law. Depending on the chamber of origin, bills begin with a designation of either H.R. or S. Joint resolution is another form of legislative measure used to propose law.
Bill Number
4294
Congress
119
Policy Area
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Primary focus of measure is natural areas (including wilderness); lands under government jurisdiction; land use practices and policies; parks, monuments, and historic sites; fisheries and marine resources; mining and minerals. Measures concerning energy supplies and production may fall under Energy policy area.
Sponsorship by Party
House Votes (1)
Senate Votes (0)
checkPassed on March 17, 2026
Question
On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended
Status
Passed
Type
Roll Call Vote
Roll Call Vote
A vote that records the individual position of each Member who voted. Such votes occurring on the House floor (by the "yeas and nays" or by "recorded vote") are taken by electronic device. The Senate has no electronic voting system; in such votes, Senators answer "yea" or "nay" as the clerk calls each name aloud. Each vote is compiled by clerks and receives a roll call number (referenced in Congress.gov as a "Record Vote" [Senate] or "Roll no." [House]).
Roll Call Type
2/3 Yea-And-Nay
Roll Number
88
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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. 

Text (4)
March 18, 2026
March 17, 2026
February 23, 2026
Actions (18)
03/18/2026
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
03/17/2026
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
03/17/2026
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).
03/17/2026
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).
03/17/2026
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2545)
03/16/2026
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.
03/16/2026
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4294.
03/16/2026
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2516-2519; text: CR H2516-2517)
03/16/2026
Mr. Wittman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
02/23/2026
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 436.
02/23/2026
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-510.
01/22/2026
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
01/22/2026
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
01/22/2026
Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Discharged
07/22/2025
Subcommittee Hearings Held
07/16/2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries.
07/07/2025
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
07/07/2025
Introduced in House
Public Record
Record Updated
Mar 21, 2026 3:53:21 AM