Elfreth, Wittman Advance Bipartisan Bill to Tackle Invasive Blue Catfish in the Chesapeake Bay Out of Committee

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Representatives Sarah Elfreth (D-MD-03) and Rob Wittman (R-VA-01), Co-Chairs of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Task Force and leaders on the House Natural Resources Committee, secured unanimous passage of the Mitigation Action and Waterman Support (MAWS) Act in a House Natural Resources Committee markup.

The legislation introduced last July would establish a pilot program to incentivize watermen to catch blue catfish and establish the structures necessary to create a long-term market for Chesapeake Bay blue catfish in the pet and animal food industry, ultimately combating the invasive blue catfish population in the Chesapeake Bay.

"Invasive blue catfish pose a direct ecological and economic threat to the Chesapeake Bay, which is why I introduced the bipartisan MAWS Act alongside Vice Chair Wittman to address the damage inflicted by blue catfish, while also strengthening our local seafood economy and providing a new source of protein to pets nationwide," said Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth. "While we can all do our part and order Blue Catfish when we see it on a menu - it's delicious - this is not a problem that we alone can eat our way out of."

"Having spent my life near the Chesapeake Bay, I understand how urgent it is that we protect the Bay's delicate ecosystem from blue catfish," said Rep. Wittman. "Blue catfish are an invasive species, and they're threatening the biodiversity of the Bay. The MAWS Act will facilitate a new market for these fish - protecting the seafood industry from economic harm and preserving the health of the Bay. I am proud to join Congresswoman Elfreth in leading this piece of legislation as it passes out of committee, and I look forward to supporting it on the House Floor."

Blue catfish are not only contributing to the ecological biodiversity challenge of the Bay, but also causing significant economic damage to Maryland and Virginia's seafood industries. They are now the most abundant biomass in the Chesapeake Bay. Despite being safe and nutritious for human consumption, watermen are struggling to sell enough blue catfish to combat the rapidly growing population, partially due to a rule that redirects inspection for this species to the USDA, unlike every other fish that is inspected through the FDA.

The bill has large bipartisan support and is co-sponsored by Representatives Steny Hoyer (D-MD-05), Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02), Glenn Ivey (D-MD-04), April McClain Delaney (D-MD-06), Kweisi Mfume (D-MD-07), Johnny Olszewski (D-MD-02), Bobby Scott (D-VA-03), Paul Gosar (R-AZ-09), and Celeste Maloy (R-UT-02). Additionally, 14 organizations have endorsed the MAWS Act since its introduction. The legislation now moves to the House floor for a vote.

Click HERE or the image below to view Elfreth's full remarks.

Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth

Remarks as Delivered

House Natural Resources Committee Markup

January 22nd, 2026

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

I want to thank you and Ranking Member Huffman, and my partner in this bill H.R. 4294, Congressman Whitman, to help craft and, frankly, perfect the MAWS Act, which is on today's UC calendar. You've heard me talk about this before, invasive blue catfish in Maryland's Chesapeake - and Virginia's Chesapeake Bay - are threatening both the ecological and economic outcomes of our region, and that's why we worked together to craft this MAWS Act. I'll just give you briefly why this is needed.

First of all, if you see blue catfish on a menu, folks in this region, please eat it. It's nutritious. It's delicious. It's also incredibly invasive. It's eating up baby oysters and rockfish and blue crabs, all the other things in the Bay that we love, and these invasive blue catfish, which have no natural predators, are just wreaking havoc across the Bay.

They're also why we need this solution, in addition to you eating it on the menu, the market is not actually solving the problem itself. We have many that are below one or two pounds or over 25 pounds, and it's certainly a problem. So this is an innovative solution, trying to open up a new market for these catfish in the pet food industry, but also doing it in such a way that's going to support our hardworking watermen.

And I think Mr. Chair, it's a model that could work if we prove its value - and there's a lot of reporting language in this bill to do so - it could work in other parts of the country. Folks along the Mississippi River who are experiencing invasive carp, for instance, snakeheads, Mr. Chair, in your district.

So I really appreciate the bipartisan support for this bill. It's going to make a real impact, real difference throughout the Chesapeake Bay - but could potentially have some great national implications. And I appreciate the time and the focus of the entire committee on this bill, and I want to thank you all in advance for supporting it.

I yield back.

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