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HR 261 · in committee · significant

Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025

What this bill does

  • Prohibits the Department of Commerce from enforcing permit requirements for undersea fiber optic cable activities in national marine sanctuaries.
  • Affects cable companies and federal agencies managing marine sanctuaries and coastal infrastructure.
  • Takes effect immediately upon enactment; allows state and federal permits to supersede Commerce enforcement.

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Community Threads

Started by Cosponsor

  1. 01

    How would removing Commerce Department permit enforcement for undersea cables in marine sanctuaries affect the protection of endangered marine species and ecosystems in those areas?

  2. 02

    Which stakeholders—cable companies, coastal states, environmental groups, or federal agencies—would benefit most from allowing permits to bypass Commerce Department review?

  3. 03

    What mechanisms would ensure undersea cable projects comply with environmental standards if Commerce Department oversight is eliminated but state and federal permits remain?

Cosponsor writes these to seed civic discussion — they aren't user posts. Sign in to reply.

Sponsor · R-GA-1

Earl L. "Buddy" Carter

Citizen cosponsors

0

In Congress

7/ 435

House Reps cosponsoring

Introduced 2026-02-12

Joining the bill

Legislative timeline

  1. 2026-02-12 · senate · IntroReferral

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

  2. 2026-02-11 · house · Floor

    The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.

  3. 2026-02-11 · house · Floor

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

  4. 2026-02-11 · house · Floor

    On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 218 - 212 (Roll no. 67). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H2162)

  5. 2026-02-11 · Floor

    Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 218 - 212 (Roll no. 67).

  6. 2026-02-11 · house · Floor

    On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 214 - 216 (Roll no. 66).

  7. 2026-02-11 · house · Floor

    Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2169-2171)

  8. 2026-02-11 · house · Floor

    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.

  9. 2026-02-11 · house · Floor

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

  10. 2026-02-11 · house · Floor

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

  11. 2026-02-11 · house · Floor

    The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

  12. 2026-02-11 · house · Floor

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

  13. 2026-02-11 · house · Floor

    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.

  14. 2026-02-11 · house · Floor

    Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1057. (consideration: CR H2161-2166)

  15. 2026-02-11 · house · Floor

    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.

  16. 2026-02-09 · house · Floor

    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.

  17. 2025-07-02 · house · Calendars

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 146.

  18. 2025-07-02 · house · Committee

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

  19. 2025-07-02 · Committee

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

  20. 2025-06-25 · house · Committee

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

  21. 2025-06-25 · house · Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

  22. 2025-06-25 · house · Committee

    Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Discharged

  23. 2025-01-23 · house · Committee

    Subcommittee Hearings Held

  24. 2025-01-21 · house · Committee

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries.

  25. 2025-01-09 · house · IntroReferral

    Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

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