MAWS Act of 2026
Commercial fishers in the Chesapeake Bay region will gain a new, subsidized market for invasive blue catfish through a two-year federal pilot program. The government will provide grants to pet food, livestock feed, and fish farming companies to buy blue catfish from local fishers and processors at a set minimum price per pound, with up to 15 percent of the funds covering transportation costs. In addition to supporting fishers' incomes and shrinking the predator population, federal scientists will track fish stocks through 2032 to see if paying manufacturers to process invasive fish could work for other troubled waterways, such as the Mississippi River basin.
What this bill touches.
Who it helps · who it burdens.
Who it helps
- Pet, animal, and aquaculture feed manufacturersEligible to receive federal cooperative agreement funds to buy invasive blue catfish and use up to 15 percent of the award to offset transportation costs (Sec. 2(2)(e)(1), Sec. 2(2)(e)(3)).
- Commercial watermen in the Chesapeake Bay WatershedGain a federally subsidized market to sell invasive blue catfish at or above a government-set minimum price per pound (Sec. 2(2)(e)(1)(A), Sec. 2(2)(e)(3)(A), Sec. 2(2)(e)(5)).
- Seafood processorsCan sell blue catfish purchased from local watermen to program-funded feed manufacturers at or above the federally determined minimum price (Sec. 2(2)(e)(1)(B), Sec. 2(2)(e)(3)(A), Sec. 2(2)(e)(5)).
Who it burdens
- Watermen and seafood processors selling under the pilot programMust certify that any blue catfish sold to participating feed manufacturers were caught within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed (Sec. 2(2)(e)(4)).
- Participating feed manufacturersMust spend awarded cooperative agreement funds to purchase blue catfish at or above the federally mandated minimum price per pound and cannot spend more than 15 percent of funds on transportation costs (Sec. 2(2)(e)(3)).
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)Must administer the pilot program, determine minimum fish prices, establish data-sharing agreements with state and research partners, publish annual population estimates through FY 2032, issue guidance within a year, provide quarterly congressional briefings, and submit a final report (Sec. 2(2)(e)(1), Sec. 2(2)(e)(5)-(9)).
The provisions, in plain language.
Show all 8 provisions
Directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to run a two-year pilot program awarding funds to animal, pet, and aquaculture feed makers to buy invasive blue catfish caught in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed from commercial watermen and seafood processors.
Requires participating feed makers to spend program funds to purchase blue catfish at or above a set minimum price, while allowing up to 15 percent of the funds to cover fish transportation costs.
Requires the government to set a minimum purchase price per pound for blue catfish in the program based on market conditions, participant feedback, and differences between fillets and byproduct.
Requires the government to partner with Maryland, Virginia, and research institutions to collect data and publish annual estimates of the Chesapeake Bay blue catfish population through fiscal year 2032.
Directs the government to report to Congress after the pilot ends on fish population changes, earnings for watermen, and options for expanding invasive species control to other waterways.
Requires watermen and seafood processors to certify that any blue catfish sold under the program were caught within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.
Requires regular quarterly congressional briefings on the status and rollout of the pilot program until it ends.
Directs the agency to publish formal program rules and guidance within one year, in consultation with regional invasive catfish experts and other federal agencies.
Directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to run a two-year pilot program awarding funds to animal, pet, and aquaculture feed makers to buy invasive blue catfish caught in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed from commercial watermen and seafood processors.
Requires participating feed makers to spend program funds to purchase blue catfish at or above a set minimum price, while allowing up to 15 percent of the funds to cover fish transportation costs.
Requires the government to set a minimum purchase price per pound for blue catfish in the program based on market conditions, participant feedback, and differences between fillets and byproduct.
Requires the government to partner with Maryland, Virginia, and research institutions to collect data and publish annual estimates of the Chesapeake Bay blue catfish population through fiscal year 2032.
Directs the government to report to Congress after the pilot ends on fish population changes, earnings for watermen, and options for expanding invasive species control to other waterways.
How your members of Congress line up
How members voted on MAWS Act of 2026.
Recorded roll calls on this bill, most recent first. Open one to see each member's position.
How it moved.
Show all 18 actions
- Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- 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).
- 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).
- Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2545)
- 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.
- DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4294.
- Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2516-2519; text: CR H2516-2517)
- Mr. Wittman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 436.
- Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-510.
- Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
- Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Discharged
- Subcommittee Hearings Held
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries.
- Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- Introduced in House
- Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- 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).
- 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).
- Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-510.
- Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
- Introduced in House
Read it for yourself.
Sources & provenance
Cite this page
Civic Herald. “MAWS Act of 2026 (H.R. 4294, 119th Congress).” https://civicherald.app/bills/119-hr-4294. Congress.gov record as of Jul 18, 2026.