HR 261 United States House · 119th Congress

Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025

The Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025 prohibits the National Marine Sanctuaries Act from requiring additional authorizations for undersea fiber optic cables that already have federal or state permits. It directly affects cable operators who have obtained licenses, leases, or permits from any federal or state agency for cable installation or maintenance in national marine sanctuaries. The bill prevents the Secretary from blocking or demanding new permits for these cables once they have valid existing authorization. This simplifies regulatory processes by eliminating redundant federal oversight for cables already approved by other agencies.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2026

House Passage

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

President

Introduced Jan 9, 2025 Last action Feb 12, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced in House → Engrossed in House · 3 edits · Feb 11, 2026

MINOR

The Engrossed version broadens the prohibition to explicitly cover 'special use permits' and adds a requirement that the prior authorization be 'in effect.' It replaces the Secretary's new authority to direct interagency cooperation with a neutral clarification that existing requirements are unchanged. A new Section 3 removes two paragraphs of restrictions on activities covered by sanctuary special use permits, further reducing regulatory barriers within national marine sanctuaries.

SCOPE

The prohibition now explicitly covers 'special use permits' and adds the condition that the prior Federal or State authorization must be 'in effect,' narrowing applicability slightly while clarifying which permit types are protected.

New Section 3 amends Section 310(c) of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act by striking paragraphs (2) and (3), removing restrictions on activities covered by sanctuary special use permits, and redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (2).

ENFORCEMENT

The interagency cooperation provision was changed from granting the Secretary new authority to direct NOAA to engage in interagency cooperation, to a neutral statement that nothing in the section alters existing interagency cooperation requirements under section 304(d).

Floor votes · House Feb 11, 2026

How they voted

218–212

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 432

Feb 11, 2026

D Democratic214

3 Yea 211 Nay

98% Nay

I Independent1

1 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican217

214 Yea 1 Nay 2

98% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Feb 12, 2026

Committee

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

upper

Feb 11, 2026

Introduced

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

lower

Feb 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Feb 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Feb 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Feb 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

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.

lower

Feb 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

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.

lower

Jul 2, 2025

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Jun 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

lower

Jun 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Discharged

lower

Jan 23, 2025

Lower · Passed

Subcommittee Hearings Held

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries.

lower

Jan 9, 2025

Committee

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

lower

Jan 9, 2025

Introduced

Introduced in House

lower

1 primary · 7 co-sponsors