H.R. 4294: MAWS Act of 2026
A House bill (H.R.) in the 119th U.S. Congress.
Overview
| Congress | 119th U.S. Congress (2025–2026) |
|---|---|
| Type | House bill (H.R.) |
| Originating chamber | House |
| Introduced | 2025-07-07 |
| Sponsor | Rep. Elfreth, Sarah [D-MD-3] |
| Policy area | Public Lands and Natural Resources |
| Cosponsors | 10 |
| Latest action | 2026-03-18 — Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. |
| Last updated | 2026-07-18 |
Summary
Official summary (Reported to House, 2026-02-23):
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.
Cosponsors (10)
| Name | Party / state |
|---|---|
| Robert J. Wittman | R VA (original cosponsor) 2025-07-07 |
| Jennifer A. Kiggans | R VA (original cosponsor) 2025-07-07 |
| Steny H. Hoyer | D MD (original cosponsor) 2025-07-07 |
| Glenn Ivey | D MD 2025-07-16 |
| April McClain Delaney | D MD 2025-07-16 |
| Johnny Olszewski, Jr. | D MD 2025-07-17 |
| Kweisi Mfume | D MD 2025-07-22 |
| Robert C. "Bobby" Scott | D VA 2025-08-01 |
| Celeste Maloy | R UT 2026-01-15 |
| Paul A. Gosar | R AZ 2026-01-16 |
Full text & official record
The official bill text, section-by-section summary, amendments, committee reports, and the complete legislative timeline for H.R. 4294 are published by Congress on congress.gov.
View H.R. 4294 on congress.gov →
Frequently asked questions
What is H.R. 4294?
H.R. 4294 is a House bill (H.R.) introduced in the 119th U.S. Congress, originating in the House. Official title: MAWS Act of 2026.
Where can I read the full bill text?
The full text, cosponsors, amendments, and legislative status for H.R. 4294 are available on congress.gov.
Bill data: congress.gov API (official congressional records).