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Bill · 119th Congress · HR 261
Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025
Refreshed 2 h ago
Introduced 2025-01-09Topic: infrastructure utilities · environment · technology privacySummary
Summary by the Congressional Research ServiceUndersea 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.
Sponsors
- Earl L. "Buddy" Carter Republican sponsor
- 7 cosponsors
Recorded votes
| Date | Chamber | Question | Result | Yeas | Nays |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-11 | House roll 67 | On Passage | Passed | 218 | 212 |
| 2026-02-11 | House roll 66 | On Motion to Recommit | Failed | 214 | 216 |
Action history
| Date | Chamber | Action | Status effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-12 | Senate | Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. | refer |
| 2026-02-11 | House | The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection. | |
| 2026-02-11 | House | Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. | |
| 2026-02-11 | 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) | |
| 2026-02-11 | Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 218 - 212 (Roll no. 67). | floor pass | |
| 2026-02-11 | House | On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 214 - 216 (Roll no. 66). | |
| 2026-02-11 | House | Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2169-2171) | |
| 2026-02-11 | 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. | |
| 2026-02-11 | House | The previous question on the motion to recommit was ordered pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XIX. | |
| 2026-02-11 | House | Mr. Carbajal moved to recommit to the Committee on Natural Resources. (text: CR H2166) | |
| 2026-02-11 | House | The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule. | |
| 2026-02-11 | House | DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 261. | |
| 2026-02-11 | 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. | |
| 2026-02-11 | House | Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1057. (consideration: CR H2161-2166) | |
| 2026-02-11 | 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. | |
| 2026-02-09 | 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. | |
| 2025-07-02 | House | Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 146. | |
| 2025-07-02 | House | Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-181. | report |
| 2025-07-02 | Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-181. | report | |
| 2025-06-25 | House | Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 25 - 18. | refer |
| 2025-06-25 | House | Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held | refer |
| 2025-06-25 | House | Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Discharged | refer |
| 2025-01-23 | House | Subcommittee Hearings Held | refer |
| 2025-01-21 | House | Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries. | refer |
| 2025-01-09 | House | Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources. | refer |
| 2025-01-09 | Introduced in House | introduce | |
| 2025-01-09 | Introduced in House | introduce |