Sarah Elfreth is committed to working with Senate colleagues to pass the MAWS Act, which would create a NOAA pilot program to build a blue catfish market in the Chesapeake Bay.

I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to get this legislation past the finish line.

Elfreth says she will keep working with the Senate to advance the MAWS Act after House passage.

House Passes Elfreth Bill to Tackle Invasive Blue Catfish in the Chesapeake Bay | Representative Sarah Elfreth
primary · press_release · model gpt-5.4-mini

The Secretary shall establish a pilot program

As sponsor of H.R. 4294, Elfreth backed creating a NOAA/Commerce pilot program for blue catfish caught in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

H.R.4294 - MAWS Act of 2025
secondary · other · model gpt-5.5

Last Action Date Listed March 17, 2026. Bill Number H.R. 4294. Bill Version Engrossed in House (EH). Short Title Mitigation Action and Watermen Support Act of 2026. Full Title: An Act To direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish a pilot program with respect to the sale of blue catfish caught within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

Official GovInfo bill record shows the measure was engrossed in the House and its last listed action was on March 17, 2026, with no later enacted status shown.

unresolved same_term A for effort

H.R. 4294 (EH) - Mitigation Action and Watermen Support Act of 2026 - BILLS-119hr4294eh | Content Details | GovInfo
secondary · model gpt-5.4-mini · confidence 97%

All actions show introduction in the House on July 7, 2025, referral to the House Committee on Natural Resources, subcommittee discharge, committee markup, and on January 22, 2026, ordered to be reported in the nature of a substitute by unanimous consent. No Senate action is listed on this page.

Congress.gov action history confirms substantial House-side movement but no Senate consideration, supporting unresolved rather than delivered.

unresolved same_term A for effort

Actions - H.R.4294 - 119th Congress (2025-2026): MAWS Act of 2026 | Congress.gov | Library of Congress
secondary · model gpt-5.4-mini · confidence 95%

"Today, Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth ... secured House passage of the Mitigation Action and Waterman Support (MAWS) Act..." and "Following today's passage, the bill moves to the Senate for further consideration."

Elfreth's official release states the House passed the MAWS Act and that it moved to the Senate, but it does not show Senate passage or enactment.

partial same_term A for effort

House Passes Elfreth Bill to Tackle Invasive Blue Catfish in the Chesapeake Bay | Representative Sarah Elfreth
primary · model gpt-5.4-mini · confidence 96%

GovInfo lists H.R. 4294 as introduced in the House on July 7, 2025 by Sarah Elfreth with Wittman, Kiggans, and Hoyer, then referred to House Natural Resources. The full title directs the Commerce Secretary to establish a pilot program for sale of Chesapeake Bay watershed blue catfish.

Official bill record confirms Elfreth introduced the MAWS Act during her current House term and that the proposal matched the promise's NOAA/Commerce blue catfish pilot-program substance.

partial same_term A for effort

H.R. 4294 (IH) - Mitigation Action and Watermen Support Act of 2025 - GovInfo
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 98%

Elfreth's office announced she introduced the bipartisan MAWS Act. The release says the bill would create a NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office pilot program to build a market for Chesapeake Bay blue catfish in pet and animal food, with grants to manufacturers and incentives for watermen.

Official Elfreth release documents concrete action to advance the promised policy and describes the bill's market-building mechanism.

partial same_term A for effort

Elfreth Introduces First-of-its-Kind Legislation to Facilitate Use of Invasive Blue Catfish in Pet Food | Representative Sarah Elfreth
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 97%

Elfreth's office said Elfreth and Wittman secured unanimous passage of the MAWS Act in House Natural Resources Committee markup and that the legislation would next move to the House floor for a vote.

The bill advanced out of committee in the same congressional term, strengthening the effort badge but not completing enactment.

partial same_term A for effort

Elfreth, Wittman Advance Bipartisan Bill to Tackle Invasive Blue Catfish in the Chesapeake Bay Out of Committee | Representative Sarah Elfreth
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 96%

GovInfo's engrossed House text for H.R. 4294 states the bill would carry out a blue catfish pilot program through cooperative agreements and records that it passed the House on March 17, 2026.

Official engrossed bill text proves House passage and the substantive pilot-program language, but House passage alone does not fulfill a promise to pass the Act through Congress.

partial same_term A for effort

H.R. 4294 (EH) - Mitigation Action and Watermen Support Act of 2026 - GovInfo bill text
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 99%

GovInfo lists the March 18, 2026 Senate action as received, read twice, and referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. The bill version is Referred in Senate, not enrolled or public law.

Official Senate-stage record shows the bill reached the Senate after House passage but, as reflected in this record, had not yet passed the Senate or become law.

unresolved same_term A for effort

H.R. 4294 (RFS) - Mitigation Action and Watermen Support Act of 2026 - GovInfo
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 98%

Elfreth's office announced House passage of the MAWS Act and said the bill moved to the Senate for further consideration. Elfreth stated she looked forward to working with Senate colleagues to get the legislation over the finish line.

The release directly tracks the promise: Elfreth secured House passage and committed to Senate work, but the same release confirms further Senate action was still required.

unresolved same_term A for effort

House Passes Elfreth Bill to Tackle Invasive Blue Catfish in the Chesapeake Bay | Representative Sarah Elfreth
primary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 97%