HR 261

Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025

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.  

Bill status

Status
Passed House
Sponsor
Rep. Earl L. "Buddy" Carter [R-GA-1]
Cosponsors
7
Policy area
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Introduced
2025-01-09
Latest action
2026-02-12: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Committee referrals

Recent actions

  • 2026-02-12: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  • 2026-02-11: The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
  • 2026-02-11: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  • 2026-02-11: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 218 - 212 (Roll no. 67). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H2162)
  • 2026-02-11: Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 218 - 212 (Roll no. 67).

Votes