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MAWS Act of 2026

3/21/2026, 3:53 AM

Summary of Bill HR 4294

H.R. 4294 in the 119th Congress, introduced on July 7, 2025, aims to direct the Secretary of Commerce to create a pilot program specifically focused on the sale of blue catfish harvested within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

Congressional Summary of HR 4294

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. 

Read the Full Bill

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Current Status of Bill HR 4294

Bill HR 4294 is currently in the status of Passed in House since March 17, 2026. Bill HR 4294 was introduced during Congress 119 and was introduced to the House on July 7, 2025.  Bill HR 4294's most recent activity was Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. as of March 18, 2026

Bipartisan Support of Bill HR 4294

Total Number of Sponsors
1
Democrat Sponsors
1
Republican Sponsors
0
Unaffiliated Sponsors
0
Total Number of Cosponsors
26
Democrat Cosponsors
16
Republican Cosponsors
10
Unaffiliated Cosponsors
0

Policy Area and Potential Impact of Bill HR 4294

Primary Policy Focus

Public Lands and Natural Resources

Alternate Title(s) of Bill HR 4294

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.
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.

Comments

Sariyah Fitzgerald profile image

Sariyah Fitzgerald

737

8 months ago

I don't care what anyone says, this new bill is gonna be great for us! It's about time someone did something about this issue. But who really benefits from it?

Baylee Clarke profile image

Baylee Clarke

794

8 months ago

Wat is this MAWS Act?

Sponsors and Cosponsors of HR 4294

Sarah Elfreth
Sarah Elfreth
MarylandIndependent
Robert J. Wittman
Robert J. Wittman
VirginiaRepublican
Jennifer A. Kiggans
Jennifer A. Kiggans
VirginiaRepublican
Steny H. Hoyer
Steny H. Hoyer
MarylandDemocrat
April McClain Delaney
April McClain Delaney
MarylandIndependent
Glenn Ivey
Glenn Ivey
MarylandDemocrat

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