I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to get this legislation past the finish line.
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.
Occurrences
The Secretary shall establish a pilot program
Evidence
legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown
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.
legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown
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.
legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown
"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."
legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown
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.
legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown
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.
legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown
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.
legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown
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.
legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown
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.
legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown
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.
legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown
The Senate Commerce Committee's 2026 legislation list includes the MAWS Act of 2026, sponsored by Rep. Sarah Elfreth, and gives the latest action as received in the Senate, read twice, and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown
GovInfo lists H.R. 4294 as Referred in Senate, with last action date March 18, 2026: received, read twice, and referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. The title directs the Commerce Secretary to establish a blue catfish sale pilot program for the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.
Assessments
Elfreth introduced and materially advanced the MAWS Act in the 119th Congress, including committee approval and House passage. However, the promised outcome was to pass the Act through Congress/create the NOAA pilot program, and the latest official status shows H.R. 4294 only received in the Senate and referred to the Senate Commerce Committee, with no Senate passage or enactment yet. Because she is still serving in the same federal term and the Congress has not ended, this is not a failed promise yet, but it is not delivered.
Elfreth materially advanced the promised MAWS Act in her federal House term: she introduced the bill, moved it through committee, and secured House passage. However, the promise was to pass the Act with Senate colleagues and create the NOAA/Commerce blue catfish market pilot program. The record provided shows the bill was received and referred in the Senate on March 18, 2026, with no Senate passage, enactment, or implemented pilot program yet. Because the 119th Congress is still ongoing as of July 2, 2026, this is not a final failure, but it is also not delivered.
The MAWS Act was sponsored/materially advanced by Sarah Elfreth and passed the House on March 17, 2026, during her current federal term. However, the promise was to work with Senate colleagues to pass the MAWS Act, and the available official record shows no Senate passage or enactment as of the cited actions. Because she remains in office and the 119th Congress is ongoing, the outcome is not yet finally failed, but it is not delivered.