HR 4294passed_one119th Congress

MAWS Act of 2026

Introduced Jul 7, 2025House billPolicy area: Public Lands and Natural ResourcesLast action Mar 17, 2026Sponsor: Sarah Elfreth(D-MD)

energyPublic Lands and Natural Resources

Commerce, Science, and Transportation CommitteeNatural Resources CommitteeWater, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee

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Official summaryUpdated Mar 18, 2026

What the bill does

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.

Latest official action

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Lobbying Filings

Undisclosed

Total Lobbying Spend

Suspicious Trades

Members Involved

Timeline

Jul 7, 2025bill

Bill introduced

Mar 17, 2026vote

Jack Bergman voted yea

Mar 17, 2026vote

Andy Biggs voted nay

Mar 17, 2026vote

Troy Balderson voted nay

Official Congressional Actions

Mar 18, 2026IntroReferral

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

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Mar 17, 2026Floor

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).

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Mar 17, 2026Floor

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).

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Mar 17, 2026Floor

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

Lobbying Activity

No lobbying filings found mentioning this bill.

Suspicious Trading Activity

Congress members who traded stocks in companies connected to lobbying on this bill, within 90 days of its introduction date.

No suspicious trade-lobbying connections found for this bill.

Votes on This Bill

Member	Party	Position	Date
Jack Bergman	R	yea	Mar 17, 2026
Andy Biggs	R	nay	Mar 17, 2026
Troy Balderson	R	nay	Mar 17, 2026
James R. Baird	R	yea	Mar 17, 2026

Methodology: Bill-Lobbying-Trade Connection

CapitolExposed identifies the "bill-lobbying-trade pipeline" by: (1) finding lobbying filings (LD-2) that specifically mention this bill, (2) matching lobbying clients to publicly traded companies, and (3) finding stock trades by members of Congress in those companies within 90 days of the bill's introduction date. Trades made before the bill was introduced are highlighted in red, as they may indicate advance knowledge. This analysis surfaces correlations worthy of scrutiny; it does not prove wrongdoing.