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H.R. 261 House Public Lands and Natural Resources

Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025

Introduced
Jan 9, 2025
Sponsor
Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" (R-GA-1)
View on Congress.gov

STAGE 4 OF 8 — HOUSE FLOOR

Currently in the House. Last action: received in the senate and read twice and referred to the committee on commerce, science, and transportation on Feb 12, 2026.

  1. House Introduced in House Jan 9, 2025
  2. House Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources. Jan 9, 2025
  3. House Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries. Jan 21, 2025
  4. House Subcommittee Hearings Held Jan 23, 2025
  5. House Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Discharged Jun 25, 2025
  6. House Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held Jun 25, 2025
  7. House Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 25 - 18. Jun 25, 2025
  8. House Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-181. Jul 2, 2025
  9. House Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 146. Jul 2, 2025
  10. House 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. Feb 9, 2026
  11. House 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. Feb 11, 2026
  12. House Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1057. (consideration: CR H2161-2166) Feb 11, 2026
  13. 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 11, 2026
  14. House DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 261. Feb 11, 2026
  15. House The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule. Feb 11, 2026
  16. House Mr. Carbajal moved to recommit to the Committee on Natural Resources. (text: CR H2166) Feb 11, 2026
  17. House The previous question on the motion to recommit was ordered pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XIX. Feb 11, 2026
  18. House 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. Feb 11, 2026
  19. House Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2169-2171) Feb 11, 2026
  20. House On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 214 - 216 (Roll no. 66). Feb 11, 2026
  21. House Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 218 - 212 (Roll no. 67). Feb 11, 2026
  22. House On 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, 2026
  23. House Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. Feb 11, 2026
  24. House The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection. Feb 11, 2026
  25. House
    On Motion to Recommit Feb 11, 2026
    Defeated Yea 214 Nay 216 Roll Call
  26. House
    On Passage Feb 11, 2026
    Agreed Yea 218 Nay 212 Roll Call
  27. Senate Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Feb 12, 2026

Cosponsors

7

Subjects

Broadcasting, cable, digital technologiesMarine and coastal resources, fisheries

Committees

  • Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
    • Referred To , Feb 12, 2026
  • Natural Resources Committee
    • Unknown , Feb 11, 2026
    • Unknown , Feb 11, 2026
    • Reported By , Jul 2, 2025
    • Markup By , Jun 25, 2025
    • Discharged from , Jun 25, 2025
    • Referred To , Jan 9, 2025

Summary

Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025This 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 as of: Introduced in House

Bill Text

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