Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed two priority bills for recreational anglers and the sportfishing industry. On March 17, the Mitigation Action and Waterman Support (MAWS) Act, sponsored by Reps Elfreth (D-MD) and Wittman (R-VA), cleared the House. The legislation would establish a pilot program in the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office to facilitate a market for Chesapeake Bay blue catfish in the pet and animal food industry to take millions of pounds of these harmful fish, particularly from sizes not suitable for human consumption, out of our waterways.
The Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act of 2025, also sponsored by Rep. Wittman, passed the following day. This legislation will prohibit bans on lead ammunition or tackle on federal lands and waters unless such regulation is consistent with state law and supported by science.
Both bills now head to the Senate, where we look forward to seeing them cross the finish line and become law.