H.R. 261: Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025
Sponsor
Earl Carter
Republican · GA-1
What H.R. 261 does
H.R. 261 would stop the Department of Commerce from enforcing certain permit requirements on undersea fiber optic cables in national marine sanctuaries. Commerce could not prohibit, or require its own authorization for, installing, operating, maintaining, repairing or recovering a cable, or leaving it in place, if a state or federal agency has already issued a license, lease or permit for the activity.
The bill would also let Commerce direct the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to coordinate with other agencies on federal actions that involve these cable activities and are likely to destroy or injure a sanctuary resource.
How the House voted
Passed · February 11, 20263 Democrats broke with their party to vote yes
Jim Costa
Josh Gottheimer
Adam Gray1 Republican broke with their party to vote no
Brian FitzpatrickOn Passage: H R 261 Undersea Cable Protection Act · Roll no. 67 · Official record
HR261 Legislative Journey
Committee Action
Feb 12, 2026
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
House: Passed 218-212
Feb 11, 2026
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 218 - 212 (Roll no. 67). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H2162)
+13 more actions this day
House: Committee Action
Feb 9, 2026
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.
House: Committee Action
Jul 2, 2025
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-181.
House: Vote: 25-18
Jun 25, 2025
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 25 - 18.
About the Sponsor
Earl Carter
Republican, Georgia's 1st congressional district · 11 years in Congress
Committees: Energy and Commerce, the Budget
View full profile →
Cosponsors (7)
All 7 cosponsors are Republicans. Cosponsors represent 6 states: Alaska, Florida, Oregon, and 3 more.
Committee Sponsors
Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
0 of 28 committee members cosponsored
No committee members have cosponsored this bill
Natural Resources Committee
3 of 45 committee members cosponsored
37 Republicans across these committees haven't cosponsored yet. Mobilize their constituents
H.R. 261 Quick Facts
- Committee
- Commerce, Science, and Transportation
- Chamber
- House
- Policy
- Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Introduced
- Jan 9, 2025
Passed the House, received in Senate
Feb 12, 2026
H.R. 261 Bill Text
“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.”
Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office
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