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H.R. 4294: MAWS Act of 2026
119th Congress · introduced 2025-07-07 · Public Lands and Natural Resources · Latest: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
federal
Official title
MAWS Act of 2026
Plain 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.
Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.
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Officials and money
Sponsor: Rep. Elfreth, Sarah [D-MD-3] · 10 cosponsors
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Recorded votes
- House roll call 88 (2026): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, H R 4294 (2026-03-17): Passed
Words on this page, explained (1)
- Bill
- A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.
Sources
- Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House)
- Congress.gov
- Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-119hr4294.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/119/hr>
Record fed-us-cong119-hr4294 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong119 · updated 2026-11-03 by psicol fed-bills