United StatesUndersea Cable Protection Act of 2025
What it does
This bill prohibits the Department of Commerce from enforcing certain permit requirements for activities related to undersea fiber optic cables in national marine sanctuaries.
More detail
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.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To President
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Feb 12Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.Latest
- Feb 11Rules 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.
- Vote recorded Legislative vote recorded. Result: Passed.House
- Vote recorded Legislative vote recorded. Result: Failed.House
- Feb 11Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1057. (consideration: CR H2161-2166)
- Feb 11Rule 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 11DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 261.
- Feb 11The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
- Feb 11Mr. Carbajal moved to recommit to the Committee on Natural Resources. (text: CR H2166)
- Feb 11The previous question on the motion to recommit was ordered pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XIX.
- Feb 11POSTPONED 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 11Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2169-2171)
- Feb 11On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 214 - 216 (Roll no. 66).
- Feb 11Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 218 - 212 (Roll no. 67).Passed House
- Feb 11On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 218 - 212 (Roll no. 67). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H2162)
- Feb 11Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Feb 11The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
- Feb 9Rules 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.
- 2025
- Jul 2Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-181.
- Jul 2Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 146.
- Jun 25Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Discharged
- Jun 25Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Jun 25Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 25 - 18.
- Jan 23Subcommittee Hearings Held
- Jan 21Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries.
- Jan 9Introduced in House
- Jan 9Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.Introduced