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.
Related bills
Identical legislation
Related
- H.Res. 1057Providing 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.119
- H.Res. 1042Providing 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.119
Bill text versions
- IntroducedIntroduced in HousePDF
- IntroducedIntroduced in HouseXML
- IntroducedIntroduced in HouseHTML
- ReportedReported in HousePDF
- ReportedReported in HouseXML
- ReportedReported in HouseHTML
- EngrossedEngrossed in HousePDF
- EngrossedEngrossed in HouseXML
- EngrossedEngrossed in HouseHTML
- ReceivedReferred in SenatePDF
- ReceivedReferred in SenateXML
- ReceivedReferred in SenateHTML
Legislative Journey
- Introduced
- Committee
- Floor
- Passed Chamber 1
- Passed Chamber 2
- Signed
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
SenateThe title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
HouseMotion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
HouseOn passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 218 - 212 (Roll no. 67). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H2162)
HousePassed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 218 - 212 (Roll no. 67).
On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 214 - 216 (Roll no. 66).
HouseConsidered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2169-2171)
HousePOSTPONED 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.
HouseThe previous question on the motion to recommit was ordered pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XIX.
HouseMr. Carbajal moved to recommit to the Committee on Natural Resources. (text: CR H2166)
HouseThe previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
HouseDEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 261.
HouseRule 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.
HouseConsidered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1057. (consideration: CR H2161-2166)
HouseRules 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.
HouseRules 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.
HousePlaced on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 146.
HouseReported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-181.
HouseReported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-181.
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 25 - 18.
HouseCommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
HouseSubcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Discharged
HouseSubcommittee Hearings Held
HouseReferred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries.
HouseReferred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
HouseIntroduced in House
Introduced in House