Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025
Bill journey · stage 2 of 5
Under committee review
What it doesSummary introduced in house (Jan 9, 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.
What just happenedFeb 12, 2026
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Who’s behind it
- Referred in SenateFeb 12, 2026
- Engrossed in HouseFeb 11, 2026
- Reported in HouseJul 2, 2025
- Introduced in HouseJan 9, 2025
- Feb 12, 2026IntroReferral
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee - Feb 11, 2026FloorH38800
The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
- Feb 11, 2026FloorH38310
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Feb 11, 2026FloorH37100
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, 2026Floor8000
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 218 - 212 (Roll no. 67).
- Feb 11, 2026FloorH36210
On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 214 - 216 (Roll no. 66).
Natural Resources Committee - Feb 11, 2026FloorH30000
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2169-2171)
- Feb 11, 2026FloorH8D000
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, 2026FloorH8A000
The previous question on the motion to recommit was ordered pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XIX.
- Feb 11, 2026FloorH36200
Mr. Carbajal moved to recommit to the Committee on Natural Resources. (text: CR H2166)
Natural Resources Committee - Feb 11, 2026FloorH35000
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
- Feb 11, 2026FloorH8D000
DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 261.
- Feb 11, 2026FloorH8D000
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, 2026FloorH30000
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1057. (consideration: CR H2161-2166)
- Feb 11, 2026FloorH1L210
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 9, 2026FloorH1L210
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.
- Jul 2, 2025CalendarsH12410
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 146.
- Jul 2, 2025CommitteeH12200
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-181.
Natural Resources Committee - Jul 2, 2025Committee5000
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-181.
Natural Resources Committee - Jun 25, 2025Committee
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 25 - 18.
Natural Resources Committee - Jun 25, 2025Committee
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Natural Resources Committee - Jun 25, 2025Committee
Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Discharged
Natural Resources Committee - Jan 23, 2025Committee
Subcommittee Hearings Held
Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee - Jan 21, 2025Committee
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries.
Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee - Jan 9, 2025IntroReferralH11100
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Natural Resources Committee - Jan 9, 2025IntroReferralIntro-H
Introduced in House
- Jan 9, 2025IntroReferral1000
Introduced in House