Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025
Introduced Jan 9, 2025 by Rep. Earl L. "Buddy" Carter
The House passed it. The Senate has to pass it before it can reach the President.
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.
Summary by the Congressional Research Service.
- Feb 12, 2026Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- Feb 11, 2026The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
- Feb 11, 2026Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Feb 11, 2026On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 218 - 212 (Roll no. 67). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H2162)
- Feb 11, 2026Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 218 - 212 (Roll no. 67).
- Feb 11, 2026On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 214 - 216 (Roll no. 66).
- Feb 11, 2026Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2169-2171)
- Feb 11, 2026POSTPONED 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.
- Feb 11, 2026The previous question on the motion to recommit was ordered pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XIX.
- Feb 11, 2026Mr. Carbajal moved to recommit to the Committee on Natural Resources. (text: CR H2166)
- Feb 11, 2026The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
- Feb 11, 2026DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 261.
- Feb 11, 2026Rule provides for consideration of S. 1383, H.R. 2189, H.R. 261 and H.R. 3617. The resolution provides for consideration of S. 1383, H.R. 2189, H.R. 261, and H.R. 3617 under a closed rule and provides for one motion to recommit H.R. 2189, H.R. 261, and H.R. 3617, and one motion to commit S. 1383.
- Feb 11, 2026Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1057. (consideration: CR H2161-2166)
- Feb 11, 2026Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1057 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of S. 1383, H.R. 2189, H.R. 261 and H.R. 3617. The resolution provides for consideration of S. 1383, H.R. 2189, H.R. 261, and H.R. 3617 under a closed rule and provides for one motion to recommit H.R. 2189, H.R. 261, and H.R. 3617, and one motion to commit S. 1383.
- Feb 9, 2026Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1042 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2189, H.R. 261 and H.R. 3617. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 2189, H.R. 261, and H.R. 3617 under a closed rule and provides for one hour of debate and one motion to recommit on each bill.
- Jul 2, 2025Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 146.
- Jul 2, 2025Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-181.
- Jun 25, 2025Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 25 - 18.
- Jun 25, 2025Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Jun 25, 2025Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Discharged
- Jan 23, 2025Subcommittee Hearings Held
- Jan 21, 2025Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries.
- Jan 9, 2025Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- Jan 9, 2025Introduced in House