Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025

Sponsored byRep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1]GA· Introduced 9 January 2025

Open on Congress.gov

Cosponsors

Actions

Amendments

Committees

—

Since introduced

Introduced

Committee

Passed Chamber

Passed Both

Enacted

Step 1 of 0

Latest action

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

12 February 2026·5 months ago

Summary

Introduced in House · Updated 3 July 2025

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.

Timeline

27 actions

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
12 February 2026 · IntroReferral
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.
11 February 2026 · Floor
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 218 - 212 (Roll no. 67). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H2162)
11 February 2026 · Floor
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1057. (consideration: CR H2161-2166)
11 February 2026 · Floor
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.
11 February 2026 · Floor
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2169-2171)
11 February 2026 · Floor
The previous question on the motion to recommit was ordered pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XIX.
11 February 2026 · Floor
The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
11 February 2026 · Floor
On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 214 - 216 (Roll no. 66).
11 February 2026 · Floor
Mr. Carbajal moved to recommit to the Committee on Natural Resources. (text: CR H2166)
11 February 2026 · Floor
DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 261.
11 February 2026 · Floor
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 218 - 212 (Roll no. 67).
11 February 2026 · Floor
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
11 February 2026 · Floor
Rules 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.
11 February 2026 · Floor
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
11 February 2026 · Floor
Rules 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.
9 February 2026 · Floor
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-181.
2 July 2025 · Committee
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 146.
2 July 2025 · Calendars
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-181.
2 July 2025 · Committee
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 25 - 18.
25 June 2025 · Committee

7 earlier actionsView all on Congress.gov

Sponsorship

7 cosponsors

Sponsor

Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1]GA

Cosponsors

Republican7100%

Republican:Rep. Begich, Nicholas J. [R-AK-At Large]AK
Republican:Rep. Bentz, Cliff [R-OR-2]OR
Republican:Rep. Pfluger, August [R-TX-11]TX
Republican:Rep. Fry, Russell [R-SC-7]SC
Republican:Rep. Cammack, Kat [R-FL-3]FL
Republican:Rep. Dunn, Neal P. [R-FL-2]FL
Republican:Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2]VA

Classification

Policy area

Public Lands and Natural Resources

Legislative subjects

Broadcasting, cable, digital technologiesMarine and coastal resources, fisheries

Committees

Natural Resources Committee
House · Standing
- Referred To9 Jan 2025
- Discharged from25 Jun 2025
- Markup By25 Jun 2025
- Reported By2 Jul 2025
- Unknown11 Feb 2026
- Unknown11 Feb 2026
- Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee
  - Referred to21 Jan 2025
  - Hearings By (subcommittee)23 Jan 2025
Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
Senate · Standing
- Referred To12 Feb 2026

Reports

H. Rept. 119-181

Cosponsor momentum

Cumulative over time

Amendments

HAMDT 165Agreed
11 February 2026

Track Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025 as it moves through Congress