H.R. 261
Referred to CommitteeUndersea Cable Protection Act of 2025
Latest Action
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
2/12/2026 • Senate
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.
Introduced in House • 1/9/2025
Topics & Subjects
CBO Cost Estimates (1)
Amendments (1)
This bill has 1 amendment proposed or adopted.
View all amendments on Congress.govCongressional Votes (2)
On Passage
February 11, 2026
On Motion to Recommit
February 11, 2026
Related Federal Spending
Sponsor & Cosponsors (8)
Party Breakdown
Sponsor
Cosponsors (7)
Bill Journey
Originated in the House
Introduced
January 9, 2025
Committee Review
January 23, 2025
Floor Debate
February 11, 2026
Passed Chamber
February 11, 2026
Other Chamber
President
Failed
February 11, 2026
Text Versions (4)
Committee Reports (1)
Related Bills (3)
H.Res. 1042
Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2189) to modernize Federal firearms laws to account for advancements in technology and less-than-lethal weapons, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (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; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3617) to amend the Department of Energy Organization Act to secure the supply of critical energy resources, including critical minerals and other materials, and for other purposes; and for other purposes.
H.Res. 1057
Providing for consideration of the bill (S. 1383) to establish the Veterans Advisory Committee on Equal Access, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2189) to modernize Federal firearms laws to account for advancements in technology and less-than-lethal weapons, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (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; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3617) to amend the Department of Energy Organization Act to secure the supply of critical energy resources, including critical minerals and other materials, and for other purposes; and waiving a requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII with respect to consideration of certain resolutions reported from the Committee on Rules.
S. 2873
Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025