H.R. 261 · 119th Congress · House

Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025

In Congress· Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Introduced
Jan 9, 25
Passed House
Feb 11, 26
Passed Senate
Pending
Sent to President
Pending
Signed into Law
Pending

Executive 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.  

Action Timeline

29
  1. FEB 12, 2026Senate

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

  2. FEB 11, 2026House floor actions

    On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays

    Roll Call #67

    218 - 212 (Roll no. 67). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H2162)

    218Yea
    212Nay
    0NV
  3. FEB 11, 2026House floor actions

    Considered as unfinished business

    (consideration: CR H2169-2171)

    2169Yea
    2171Nay
    0NV
  4. FEB 11, 2026House floor actions

    Mr

    Carbajal moved to recommit to the Committee on Natural Resources. (text: CR H2166)

  5. FEB 11, 2026House floor actions

    Considered under the provisions of rule H

    Res. 1057. (consideration: CR H2161-2166)

    2161Yea
    2166Nay
    0NV
  6. FEB 11, 2026House floor actions

    The title of the measure was amended

    Agreed to without objection.

  7. FEB 11, 2026House floor actions

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  8. FEB 11, 2026House floor actions

    On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays

    Roll Call #67

    218 - 212 (Roll no. 67).

    218Yea
    212Nay
    0NV
  9. FEB 11, 2026Library of Congress

    Passed/agreed to in House

    Roll Call #67

    On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 218 - 212 (Roll no. 67).

    218Yea
    212Nay
    0NV
  10. FEB 11, 2026House floor actions

    On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays

    Roll Call #66

    214 - 216 (Roll no. 66).

    214Yea
    216Nay
    0NV
  11. FEB 11, 2026House floor actions

    Considered as unfinished business.

  12. FEB 11, 2026House floor actions

    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.

  13. FEB 11, 2026House floor actions

    The previous question on the motion to recommit was ordered pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XIX.

  14. FEB 11, 2026House floor actions

    Mr

    Carbajal moved to recommit to the Committee on Natural Resources.

  15. FEB 11, 2026House floor actions

    The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

  16. FEB 11, 2026House floor actions

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 261.

  17. FEB 11, 2026House floor actions

    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.

  18. FEB 11, 2026House floor actions

    Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1057.

  19. FEB 11, 2026House floor actions

    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.

  20. FEB 09, 2026House floor actions

    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.

  21. JUL 02, 2025House floor actions

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 146.

  22. JUL 02, 2025Library of Congress

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-181.

    119Yea
    181Nay
    0NV
  23. JUN 25, 2025House committee actions

    Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 25 - 18.

    25Yea
    18Nay
    0NV
  24. JUN 25, 2025House committee actions

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

  25. JUN 25, 2025House committee actions

    Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Discharged

  26. JAN 23, 2025House committee actions

    Subcommittee Hearings Held

  27. JAN 21, 2025House committee actions

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries.

  28. JAN 09, 2025House floor actions

    Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

  29. JAN 09, 2025Library of Congress

    Introduced in House

Committees

3

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

sscm00

Referred: Feb 12, 2026

Active

Natural Resources Committee

hsii00

Referred: Feb 11, 2026

Discharged: Jun 25, 2025

Discharged

Natural Resources Committee

hsii00

Referred: Jul 2, 2025

Discharged: Jun 25, 2025

Discharged