119th Congress · introduced in the House · Jul 7, 2025
MAWS Act of 2026
Official title from Congress.gov
Latest action (Mar 18, 2026): Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
View on Congress.govPolicy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Congressional Research Service summary, version: Reported to House (Feb 23, 2026)
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.
Includes amendment, cloture, and procedural votes. Each is labeled with its exact question; only a passage question is a vote to pass the bill.
House · Mar 17, 2026 · Roll call 88 · Passed
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). Roll call details
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). Roll call details
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.
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
Introduced in House
Actions from Congress.gov, newest first.
Chesapeake Bay · Congressional oversight · Delaware · District of Columbia · Fishes · Food industry and services · Food supply, safety, and labeling · Marine and coastal resources, fisheries · Maryland · New York State · Pennsylvania · Seafood · Virginia · Watersheds · West Virginia · Wildlife conservation and habitat protection
LD-2 reports whose issue descriptions explicitly cite this bill (bill type and number validated against Congress.gov records). A citation does not establish the client's position or any contact with a member.
Loading lobbying reportsCoverage: reports for 2025 onward, posted Jan 1, 2025 through Oct 24, 2026.
13 citations.
PET FOOD INSTITUTE · lobbying firm or registrant: PET FOOD INSTITUTE
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 20, 2026 · issue area: Marine/Maritime/Boating/Fisheries
$150,000
Spent on own lobbying
…erways and ports that will enhance the efficient and cost-effective transport of agricultural and food products, including pet food. 3. Supports the passage of H.R. 4294: The Mitigation Action and Watermen Support (MAWS) Act of 2025. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish a pilot program with respect to the sale of blue…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
AMERICAN SPORTFISHING ASSOCIATION · lobbying firm or registrant: AMERICAN SPORTFISHING ASSOCIATION
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 16, 2026 · issue area: Natural Resources
$60,000
Spent on own lobbying
…ldlife Restoration Act of 2025. Support for S. 4250, the Sport Fish Restoration, Recreational Boating Safety, and Wildlife Restoration Act of 2026. Support for H.R. 4294, the MAWS Act of 2026. Support for H.R.8876, the Aquatic Invasive Species Control and Prevention Act of 2026
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
AMERICAN ZOO AND AQUARIUM ASSOCIATION · lobbying firm or registrant: AMERICAN ZOO AND AQUARIUM ASSOCIATION
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 13, 2026 · issue area: Natural Resources
$25,000
Spent on own lobbying
H.R. 3538, the Wildlife Confiscations Network Act of 2025 H.R. 4294, the Mitigation Action and Watermen Support (MAWS) Act of 2025 H.R. 6184, the NOAA Data Preservation Act
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
AMERICAN SPORTFISHING ASSOCIATION · lobbying firm or registrant: AMERICAN SPORTFISHING ASSOCIATION
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 29, 2026 · issue area: Natural Resources
$60,000
Spent on own lobbying
…ldlife Restoration Act of 2025. Support for S. 4250, the Sport Fish Restoration, Recreational Boating Safety, and Wildlife Restoration Act of 2026. Support for H.R. 4294, the MAWS Act of 2026. Support for H.R.8876, the Aquatic Invasive Species Control and Prevention Act of 2026
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
PET FOOD INSTITUTE · lobbying firm or registrant: PET FOOD INSTITUTE
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 21, 2026 · issue area: Marine/Maritime/Boating/Fisheries
$150,000
Spent on own lobbying
…erways and ports that will enhance the efficient and cost-effective transport of agricultural and food products, including pet food. 3. Supports the passage of H.R. 4294: The Mitigation Action and Watermen Support (MAWS) Act of 2025. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish a pilot program with respect to the sale of blue…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
AMERICAN ZOO AND AQUARIUM ASSOCIATION · lobbying firm or registrant: AMERICAN ZOO AND AQUARIUM ASSOCIATION
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 17, 2026 · issue area: Natural Resources
$75,000
Spent on own lobbying
H.R. 3538, the Wildlife Confiscations Network Act of 2025 H.R. 4294, the Mitigation Action and Watermen Support (MAWS) Act of 2025 H.R. 6184, the NOAA Data Preservation Act
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
AMERICAN SPORTFISHING ASSOCIATION · lobbying firm or registrant: AMERICAN SPORTFISHING ASSOCIATION
2026 Q1 report (Jan 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2026) · posted Apr 23, 2026 · issue area: Natural Resources
$60,000
Spent on own lobbying
…Fish Restoration, Recreational Boating Safety, and Wildlife Restoration Act of 2025. Support for H.R. 5966, the Ohio River Restoration Program Act. Support for H.R. 4294, the MAWS Act of 2026. Support for H.R. 8195, the Responsible Cormorant Management and Control Act of 2026
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
PET FOOD INSTITUTE · lobbying firm or registrant: PET FOOD INSTITUTE
2026 Q1 report (Jan 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2026) · posted Apr 21, 2026 · issue area: Marine/Maritime/Boating/Fisheries
$170,000
Spent on own lobbying
…erways and ports that will enhance the efficient and cost-effective transport of agricultural and food products, including pet food. 3. Supports the passage of H.R. 4294: The Mitigation Action and Watermen Support (MAWS) Act of 2025. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish a pilot program with respect to the sale of blue…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
AMERICAN ZOO AND AQUARIUM ASSOCIATION · lobbying firm or registrant: AMERICAN ZOO AND AQUARIUM ASSOCIATION
2026 Q1 report (Jan 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2026) · posted Apr 17, 2026 · issue area: Natural Resources
$25,000
Spent on own lobbying
H.R. 3538, the Wildlife Confiscations Network Act of 2025 H.R. 4294, the Mitigation Action and Watermen Support (MAWS) Act of 2025 H.R. 6184, the NOAA Data Preservation Act
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
PET FOOD INSTITUTE · lobbying firm or registrant: PET FOOD INSTITUTE
2025 Q4 report (Oct 1, 2025 – Dec 31, 2025) · posted Jan 20, 2026 · issue area: Marine/Maritime/Boating/Fisheries
$160,000
Spent on own lobbying
…ully urge the administration to reconstitute the White House Supply Chain Disruption Task Force to address these issues proactively. 5. Supports the passage of H.R. 4294: The Mitigation Action and Watermen Support (MAWS) Act of 2025. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish a pilot program with respect to the sale of blue…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
AMERICAN ZOO AND AQUARIUM ASSOCIATION · lobbying firm or registrant: AMERICAN ZOO AND AQUARIUM ASSOCIATION
2025 Q4 report (Oct 1, 2025 – Dec 31, 2025) · posted Jan 13, 2026 · issue area: Natural Resources
$25,000
Spent on own lobbying
H.R. 3538, the Wildlife Confiscations Network Act of 2025 H.R. 4294, the Mitigation Action and Watermen Support (MAWS) Act of 2025 H.R. 6184, the NOAA Data Preservation Act
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
PET FOOD INSTITUTE · lobbying firm or registrant: PET FOOD INSTITUTE
2025 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2025) · posted Oct 20, 2025 · issue area: Marine/Maritime/Boating/Fisheries
$140,000
Spent on own lobbying
…ully urge the administration to reconstitute the White House Supply Chain Disruption Task Force to address these issues proactively. 5. Supports the passage of H.R. 4294: The Mitigation Action and Watermen Support (MAWS) Act of 2025. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish a pilot program with respect to the sale of blue…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
AMERICAN ZOO AND AQUARIUM ASSOCIATION · lobbying firm or registrant: AMERICAN ZOO AND AQUARIUM ASSOCIATION
2025 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2025) · posted Oct 14, 2025 · issue area: Natural Resources
$25,000
Spent on own lobbying
H.R. 3538, the Wildlife Confiscations Network Act of 2025 H.R. 4294, the Mitigation Action and Watermen Support (MAWS) Act of 2025
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing