Govoptes

HR 261 · Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Introduced
Jan 9, 2025
Latest action
Feb 12, 2026
Sponsor
Rep. Earl L. "Buddy" Carter [R-GA-1]
Policy area
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Cosponsors
7

Summary

Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025 This bill prohibits the Department of Commerce from enforcing certain permit requirements for activities related to undersea fiber optic cables in national marine sanctuaries. Specifically, Commerce may not prohibit or require an authorization for any covered activities related to undersea fiber optic cables if a license, lease, or permit has been issued by a state or federal agency to authorize the covered activity. Covered activities are the installation, continued presence, operation, maintenance, repair, or recovery of undersea fiber optic cables in a national marine sanctuary. The bill also authorizes Commerce to direct the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to engage in interagency cooperation regarding federal agency actions that are likely to destroy, cause the loss of, or injure a resource in a national marine sanctuary and involve covered activities.

Recent actions

  1. Feb 12, 2026 Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  2. Feb 11, 2026 The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
  3. Feb 11, 2026 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  4. Feb 11, 2026 On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 218 - 212 (Roll no. 67). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H2162)
  5. Feb 11, 2026 Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 218 - 212 (Roll no. 67).
  6. Feb 11, 2026 On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 214 - 216 (Roll no. 66).
  7. Feb 11, 2026 Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2169-2171)
  8. Feb 11, 2026 POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on H.R. 261, the Chair put the question on motion to recommit and by voice vote, announced the noes had prevailed. Mr. Carbajal demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.

Votes

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