H.R. 261 · Where this bill is now
In the Senate
Passed the House Feb 11, 2026. Received Feb 12, 2026; no Senate vote yet
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summarySpeeds up undersea fiber optic cable approvals
Ever wondered how data crosses the ocean? This bill changes how the Department of Commerce handles permits for undersea fiber optic cables in marine sanctuaries. If a state or federal agency has already approved a project with a license, lease, or permit, the Commerce Department can't block it or require a separate authorization. The bill applies to installing, maintaining, repairing, or recovering these cables in national marine sanctuaries, and it allows federal agencies to coordinate when activities might harm marine resources.
How it affects you
This mainly affects telecommunications companies and internet service providers that want to lay or upgrade undersea cables. For most people, the change could potentially speed up internet infrastructure projects, though the official summary doesn't spell out direct effects on your daily life or costs.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Jan 9, 2025)
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.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 261
AN ACT
Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025
Sponsor: Rep. Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (R-GA-1) · Introduced Jan 9, 2025 · Public Lands and Natural Resources · 4 versions of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Feb 12, 2026: “Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.”
How Congress voted
Official roll callsHouse · On Passage · Feb 11, 2026
Passage Passed 218–212
| Party | Yes | No | Didn’t vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 3 | 211 | 0 |
| Republicans | 215 | 1 | 2 |
4 members voted against most of their party: 3 Democrats voted Yes and 1 Republicans voted No.
Congress votes on whole bills and amendments, not on single sections.