Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025
Introduced Jan 9, 2025 · Last action Feb 12, 2026 — Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
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Summary
This legislation is called the Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025. It is being reviewed by a committee.
Full bill text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 261 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 261
To amend the National Marine Sanctuaries Act to prohibit requiring an
authorization for the installation, continued presence, operation,
maintenance, repair, or recovery of undersea fiber optic cables in a
national marine sanctuary if such activities have previously been
authorized by a Federal or State agency.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 9, 2025
Mr. Carter of Georgia (for himself, Mr. Dunn of Florida, Mrs. Cammack,
Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia, Mr. Fry, and Mr. Pfluger) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural
Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the National Marine Sanctuaries Act to prohibit requiring an
authorization for the installation, continued presence, operation,
maintenance, repair, or recovery of undersea fiber optic cables in a
national marine sanctuary if such activities have previously been
authorized by a Federal or State agency.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Undersea Cable Protection Act of
2025''.
SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON REQUIRING AUTHORIZATIONS FOR UNDERSEA FIBER
OPTIC CABLES PREVIOUSLY AUTHORIZED BY FEDERAL OR STATE
AGENCIES.
The National Marine Sanctuaries Act (16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.) is
amended by inserting after section 310 the following:
``SEC. 310A. PROHIBITION ON REQUIRING AUTHORIZATIONS FOR UNDERSEA FIBER
OPTIC CABLES PREVIOUSLY AUTHORIZED BY FEDERAL OR STATE
AGENCIES.
``(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act,
the Secretary may not prohibit or require any authorization for the
installation, continued presence, operation, maintenance, repair, or
recovery of undersea fiber optic cables in a national marine sanctuary
if a license, lease, or permit has been issued by a Federal or State
agency authorizing such installation, continued presence, operation,
maintenance, repair, or recovery.
``(b) Interagency Cooperation.--The Secretary may direct the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to engage in
interagency cooperation under section 304(d) in any Federal agency
action described in that section and involving the installation,
continued presence, operation, maintenance, repair, or recovery of
undersea fiber optic cables in a national marine sanctuary.''.
<all>Official legislative text sourced from the public record (cached on CivicsHQ).
Official source
View the original bill, actions, and full legislative record on Congress.gov.
Status
Failed
This bill did not complete the normal legislative path (failed).
Timeline reflects current normalized status only. Full action history is not yet stored in the API.
Sponsors
Votes
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 218 - 212 (Roll no. 67). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H2162)
Vote totals recorded, but member positions were not captured.
On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 214 - 216 (Roll no. 66).
Vote totals recorded, but member positions were not captured.