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Congress·Passed House·H.R. 4294

Chesapeake Bay: Invasive Blue Catfish Pilot Program

MAWS Act of 2026

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Scheduled for House Floor Vote

This bill is on the House floor schedule this week under suspension of the rules.

Legislative Progress

✓ House
Senate
President
Law

Key Points

  • The Department of Commerce will start a two-year test program to help remove invasive blue catfish from the Chesapeake Bay. The government will work with companies that make pet food and animal feed to buy these fish directly from local fishermen and seafood processors.
  • The goal is to protect the Chesapeake Bay environment by reducing the number of blue catfish, which are an invasive species. These fish eat native species and disrupt the local ecosystem, so finding a way to turn them into useful products like pet food helps both the environment and the economy.
  • Local fishermen, often called watermen, will get a guaranteed minimum price for the blue catfish they catch. This provides a steady income for people working in the Bay while encouraging them to catch as many of these invasive fish as possible.
  • The program will also track how many blue catfish are in the Bay and how the program affects other wildlife. By 2027, the government will start publishing yearly reports on the catfish population to see if the plan is working.
  • Up to 15% of the program's funds can be used to help pay for transporting the fish to processing plants. This makes it easier for small businesses to participate and helps get the fish from the water to the factory more efficiently.

Milestones

5 milestones19 actions
Mar 18, 2026Senate

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

Mar 17, 2026House

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

Mar 17, 2026House

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).

Mar 17, 2026

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).

Mar 17, 2026House

Considered as unfinished business.

Vote Results

1 vote
HousePassedProceduralMar 17, 2026

On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended

320
66
Democrat
192 – 1 · 21
Republican
128 – 65 · 24
View full roll call

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

MAWS Act of 2026

Bill NumberHR 4294
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionReceived in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(10)
D: 6R: 4

Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.