Legislation· Feb 2026Sponsored by Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (R)
Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025
Bars Commerce from requiring permits for undersea fiber optic cables already licensed by states or federal agencies.
Tradeoff
Streamlines undersea cable installation by removing a federal permitting layer for cables in marine sanctuaries. Trade-off: Commerce loses direct authority to block cable projects based on sanctuary protection rules.
What's in it
Estimated cost is negligible (between -$500,000 and $500,000) over 2026-2035.
The negligible federal cost reflects only NOAA's administrative expense to update regulations and publish notices — the policy's real impact is on cable operators who are relieved of permitting requirements in marine sanctuaries where other agencies have already approved their activities.
The House passed this 218-212 on February 11, 2026. A failed 214-216 the same day — the bill is now in the Senate.
House
Introduced
(Jan 9, 2025)
House
Committee on Natural Resources(Jan 9, 2025)
House
The Committee on Natural Resources voted to send it to the floor
Reported 25 - 18(Jun 25, 2025)
Committee report H. Rept. 119-181.
House
On
Failed(Roll #66 · Feb 11, 2026)
214 yeanay 216House
Passage of the bill
Passed(Roll #67 · Feb 11, 2026)
218 yeanay 212Senate
Received from the House
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation(Feb 12, 2026)
- Neal P. Dunn (R-FL)
- Kat Cammack (R-FL)
- Jennifer A. Kiggans (R-VA)
- Russell Fry (R-SC)
- August Pfluger (R-TX)
- Cliff Bentz (R-OR)
- Nicholas J. Begich (R-AK)
Passage votes so far· Feb 11, 2026· 119th Congress · 2025–2027