Bills · 119th Congress · Public Lands and Natural Resources

MAWS Act of 2026

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Roll calls on this bill

Votes on passage
HouseOn Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended · 3/17/26Suspension of the rulesA fast-track House procedure, usually for measures expected to have broad support. Debate is limited to 40 minutes, no amendments can be offered, and it needs a two-thirds vote of members voting — not a simple majority. A yes vote passes the bill. “As amended” means changes written into the motion itself are included.Rules of the House, Rule XV, clause 1 ↗
Passed
  • Democratic192 Yea · 1 Nay · 21 Not voting
  • Republican127 Yea · 65 Nay · 24 Not voting
  • Independent / Other1 Yea · 0 Nay · 0 Not voting
Official summary (CRS)

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.

Full text on congress.gov ↗
Sponsor
Rep. Sarah Elfreth ( Democrat · MD-3)
Cosponsors
10
Introduced
7/7/25
Policy area
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Status
7/7/25Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
7/7/25Introduced in House
7/16/25Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries.
7/22/25Subcommittee Hearings Held
1/22/26Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
1/22/26Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
1/22/26Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Discharged
2/23/26Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 436.
2/23/26Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-510.
3/16/26At 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.
3/16/26DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4294.
3/16/26Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2516-2519; text: CR H2516-2517)
3/16/26Mr. Wittman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
3/17/26Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
3/17/26On 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).
3/17/26Passed/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).
3/17/26Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2545)
3/18/26Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.