MAWS Act of 2026

Today's wording of each part of the law, with what would be struck out and added. Each change also gives the bill's own instruction, word for word.

1. 15 U.S.C. 1511drenumberedby H.R. 4294 Sec. 2(1)

   The bill says: by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (f); and

   Bill text · Current law (15 U.S.C. 1511d)

2. 15 U.S.C. 1511dadded (e)by H.R. 4294 Sec. 2(2)

   (e) Blue catfish pilot program.—(1) In general.— The Secretary, utilizing and coordinating with applicable programs and activities described in subsection (b)(3), shall carry out a pilot program to enter into cooperative agreements with covered entities for such covered entities to purchase, in accordance with paragraph (3)—(A) from watermen, blue catfish caught within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed by such watermen; and(B) from seafood processors, such blue catfish purchased by seafood processors from such watermen.(2) Applications.— To be eligible to enter into a cooperative agreement under the pilot program, a covered entity shall submit to the Secretary an application in such form, at such time, and containing such information as the Secretary determines appropriate.(3) Use of amounts.— A covered entity that enters into a cooperative agreement under the pilot program—(A) shall use any amounts awarded under such cooperative agreement to purchase blue catfish from watermen or seafood processors for at least the amount determined by the Secretary under paragraph (5); and(B) may use not more than 15 percent of such amounts to offset the cost to transport such blue catfish to manufacturing or processing facilities.(4) Waterman and seafood processor eligibility.— To be eligible to sell a blue catfish under the pilot program to a covered entity that enters into a cooperative agreement under the pilot program—(A) a waterman shall certify to such covered entity that the waterman caught the blue catfish within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed; and(B) a seafood processor shall certify to such covered entity that the seafood processor purchased the blue catfish from a waterman who caught the blue catfish within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.(5) Determination of minimum purchase amount.— With respect to blue catfish sold by watermen or seafood processors under the pilot program, the Secretary shall determine the minimum price per pound, taking into consideration—(A) market factors;(B) feedback from watermen, seafood processors, and covered entities that participate in the pilot program, if available; and(C) differentiation of price points for fillet and byproduct.(6) Abundance baseline.—(A) Memorandum of understanding.— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall seek to enter into a memorandum of understanding with eligible non-Federal partners—(i) to compile existing non-Federal data necessary for the Secretary—(I) to develop under subparagraph (B) an estimate of the abundance of blue catfish in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed; and(II) to provide the information described in subparagraphs (A) through (D) of paragraph (7) in the report required under that paragraph; and(ii) to adjust the collection by such eligible non-Federal partners of relevant data such that such data can be used as described in subclauses (I) and (II) of clause (i).(B) Abundance estimates.— Not later than September 30, 2027, and annually thereafter through fiscal year 2032, the Secretary shall develop, pursuant to the memorandum of understanding described in subparagraph (A), and make publicly available on the website of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration an estimate of the abundance of blue catfish in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.(7) Report.— Not later than 180 days after the date on which the pilot program terminates in accordance with paragraph (9), the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report regarding the pilot program, including the following information:(A) A summary of available information regarding the size and spawning stock biomass of the blue catfish population in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed prior to and at the conclusion of the pilot program, using the most recent data available.(B) A summary of available data regarding the size distribution and diet of the blue catfish population in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed during and at the conclusion of the pilot program.(C) The number of blue catfish and the amount of blue catfish (measured in pounds) caught by watermen who participate in the pilot program during the pilot program.(D) The effects of the pilot program on species other than the blue catfish in and the environment of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, to the extent known.(E) The economic effect of the pilot program on watermen who participate in the pilot program, including—(i) the revenue generated by each such waterman by selling blue catfish under the pilot program; and(ii) catch data with respect to and revenue generated from other species fished by such watermen during the pilot program.(F) The market response to the pilot program, including—(i) the total amount awarded under the pilot program to covered entities that enter into cooperative agreements under the pilot program; and(ii) trends in the types of such covered entities.(G) With respect to the manufacturing or processing practices of each covered entity that enters into a cooperative agreement under the pilot program, information regarding whether each such covered entity—(i) uses internal or third-party manufacturers or processors;(ii) uses, for each type of food product produced by the covered entity, whole fish, fillet, or byproduct; and(iii) if the covered entity uses only part of the fish, sells the remainder to third parties.(H) How each covered entity that enters into a cooperative agreement under the pilot program transports blue catfish purchased by the covered entity, including—(i) whether the covered entity freezes such blue catfish;(ii) how often the covered entity picks up such blue catfish; and(iii) whether the covered entity uses a seafood transport company that is local to the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.(I) Policy recommendations regarding—(i) the continuation of the pilot program in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed; and(ii) the expansion of the pilot program to other watersheds, including—(I) best practices;(II) specific recommend

   The bill says: by inserting after subsection (d) the following:

   Bill text · Current law (15 U.S.C. 1511d)

From the bill's official text on GovInfo and the U.S. Code, 2024 edition, which may not yet show changes made since.