3.0.0 261 2026-06-13T02:26:22Z 2026-07-13T20:09:28Z House H HR 2025-01-09 119 https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/261 [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 5 (Thursday, January 9, 2025)][House]From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]By Mr. CARTER of Georgia:H.R. 261.Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuantto the following:Congress is granted the authority to introduce and enactthis legislation pursuant to Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S.Constitution[Page H92]]]> sscm00 Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Senate Standing Referred To 2026-02-12T20:44:48Z hsii00 Natural Resources Committee House Standing hsii13 Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee Hearings By (subcommittee) 2025-01-23T18:53:14Z Referred to 2025-01-21T22:15:29Z Unknown 2026-02-11T23:24:22Z Unknown 2026-02-11T21:45:03Z Reported By 2025-07-02T13:26:29Z Markup By 2025-06-25T20:27:27Z Discharged from 2025-06-25T20:27:19Z Referred To 2025-01-09T14:30:15Z H. Rept. 119-181 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 for other purposes. 119 1042 HRES 2026-02-10 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. 21:55:17 Related bill House Procedurally related House Providing 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 1057 HRES 2026-02-11 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. 13:02:54 Related bill House Procedurally related House Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025 119 2873 S 2025-09-18 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Identical bill CRS 2026-02-12 sscm00 Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Senate Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. IntroReferral 2026-02-11 18:30:32 The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection. Floor H38800 2 House floor actions 2026-02-11 18:30:28 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. Floor H38310 2 House floor actions 2026-02-11 18:30:27 On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 218 - 212 (Roll no. 67). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H2162) Floor H37100 2 House floor actions 67 https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2026/roll067.xml House 119 2026-02-11T23:30:27Z 2 2026-02-11 18:30:27 Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 218 - 212 (Roll no. 67). Floor 8000 9 Library of Congress 67 https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2026/roll067.xml House 119 2026-02-11T23:30:27Z 2 2026-02-11 18:24:22 On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 214 - 216 (Roll no. 66). Floor H36210 2 House floor actions hsii00 Natural Resources Committee 66 https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2026/roll066.xml House 119 2026-02-11T23:24:22Z 2 2026-02-11 18:18:20 Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2169-2171) Floor H30000 2 House floor actions 2026-02-11 16:45:23 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. Floor H8D000 2 House floor actions 2026-02-11 16:45:14 The previous question on the motion to recommit was ordered pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XIX. Floor H8A000 2 House floor actions 2026-02-11 16:45:03 Mr. Carbajal moved to recommit to the Committee on Natural Resources. (text: CR H2166) Floor H36200 2 House floor actions hsii00 Natural Resources Committee 2026-02-11 16:44:23 The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule. Floor H35000 2 House floor actions 2026-02-11 16:09:04 DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 261. Floor H8D000 2 House floor actions 2026-02-11 16:08:46 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. Floor H8D000 2 House floor actions 2026-02-11 16:08:41 Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1057. (consideration: CR H2161-2166) Floor H30000 2 House floor actions 2026-02-11 10:46:51 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. Floor H1L210 2 House floor actions 2026-02-09 20:50:17 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. Floor H1L210 2 House floor actions 2025-07-02 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 146. Calendars H12410 2 House floor actions U00146 2025-07-02 Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-181. Committee H12200 2 House floor actions hsii00 Natural Resources Committee 2025-07-02 Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-181. Committee 5000 9 Library of Congress hsii00 Natural Resources Committee 2025-06-25 hsii00 Natural Resources Committee 1 House committee actions Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 25 - 18. Committee 2025-06-25 hsii00 Natural Resources Committee 1 House committee actions Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held Committee 2025-06-25 hsii00 Natural Resources Committee 1 House committee actions Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Discharged Committee 2025-01-23 hsii13 Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee 1 House committee actions Subcommittee Hearings Held Committee 2025-01-21 hsii13 Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee 1 House committee actions Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries. Committee 2025-01-09 Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources. IntroReferral H11100 2 House floor actions hsii00 Natural Resources Committee 2025-01-09 Introduced in House IntroReferral Intro-H 9 Library of Congress 2025-01-09 Introduced in House IntroReferral 1000 9 Library of Congress C001103 Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1] Earl Carter R GA L. "Buddy" 1 N D000628 Rep. Dunn, Neal P. [R-FL-2] Neal Dunn R FL P. 2 2025-01-09 True C001039 Rep. Cammack, Kat [R-FL-3] Kat Cammack R FL 3 2025-01-09 True K000399 Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2] Jennifer Kiggans R VA A. 2 2025-01-09 True F000478 Rep. Fry, Russell [R-SC-7] Russell Fry R SC 7 2025-01-09 True P000048 Rep. Pfluger, August [R-TX-11] August Pfluger R TX 11 2025-01-09 True B000668 Rep. Bentz, Cliff [R-OR-2] Cliff Bentz R OR 2 2025-02-12 False B001323 Rep. Begich, Nicholas J. [R-AK-At Large] Nicholas Begich R AK J. 0 2025-06-25 False 2026-02-06T16:58:00Z H.R. 261, Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025 https://www.cbo.gov/publication/62090 As reported by the House Committee on Natural Resources on July 2, 2025 Public Lands and Natural Resources Broadcasting, cable, digital technologies 2025-02-27T15:22:16Z Marine and coastal resources, fisheries 2025-02-27T15:22:09Z Public Lands and Natural Resources 2025-02-19T14:11:02Z 00 2025-01-09 Introduced in House 2025-07-03T13:56:25Z 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.  

]]> Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025 Short Titles from RFS (Referred to Senate) bill text 255 Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025 2026-02-14T04:38:25Z S Senate Referred in Senate RFS Display Title 45 Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025 2026-02-13T04:43:25Z Official Titles from EH (Engrossed in House) bill text 259 To amend the National Marine Sanctuaries Act to prohibit the Secretary of Commerce from prohibiting, or requiring any permit or other 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 been authorized by a Federal or State agency. 2026-02-13T04:43:24Z H House Engrossed in House EH Short Title(s) as Passed House 104 Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025 2026-02-13T04:43:24Z H House Engrossed in House EH Official Titles as Amended by House 7 To amend the National Marine Sanctuaries Act to prohibit the Secretary of Commerce from prohibiting, or requiring any permit or other 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 been authorized by a Federal or State agency 2026-02-12T13:10:33Z H House Short Title(s) as Reported to House 102 Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025 2025-07-04T02:23:19Z H House Reported in House RH Short Title(s) as Introduced 101 Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025 2025-02-05T02:23:16Z Introduced in House IH Official Title as Introduced 6 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. 2025-02-05T02:18:30Z Introduced in House IH 165 119 HAMDT Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1057, the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Natural Resources now printed in the bill is considered adopted. 2026-02-12T09:09:15Z 2026-02-11 On agreeing to the Rules amendment (A001) Agreed to without objection. Rules Committee 2026-02-11T05:00:00Z House of Representatives 119 HR House H 261 Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025 2026-07-13 4 2026-02-11 On agreeing to the Rules amendment (A001) Agreed to without objection. 72500 9 Library of Congress 2026-02-11 Amendment in the nature of a substitute reported by the House Committee on Rules. NotUsed 71500 9 Library of Congress hsru00 Rules Committee 2026-02-11 House amendment offered/reported by: Amendment in the nature of a substitute reported by the House Committee on Rules. NotUsed 71500 9 Library of Congress hsru00 Rules Committee 2026-02-11 House amendment considered as adopted: On agreeing to the Rules amendment (A001) Agreed to without objection. 72500 9 Library of Congress Referred in Senate 2026-02-12T05:00:00Z https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-119hr261rfs/xml/BILLS-119hr261rfs.xml Engrossed in House 2026-02-11T05:00:00Z https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-119hr261eh/xml/BILLS-119hr261eh.xml Reported in House 2025-07-02T04:00:00Z https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-119hr261rh/xml/BILLS-119hr261rh.xml Introduced in House 2025-01-09T05:00:00Z https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-119hr261ih/xml/BILLS-119hr261ih.xml 2026-02-12 Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress This file contains bill summaries and statuses for federal legislation. A bill summary describes the most significant provisions of a piece of legislation and details the effects the legislative text may have on current law and federal programs. Bill summaries are authored by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) of the Library of Congress. As stated in Public Law 91-510 (2 USC 166 (d)(6)), one of the duties of CRS is "to prepare summaries and digests of bills and resolutions of a public general nature introduced in the Senate or House of Representatives". For more information, refer to the User Guide that accompanies this file.