Congress·Passed House·H.R. 261

Internet Cables: Maintenance in Protected Ocean Areas

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

Also known as: Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025

about 1 month ago·View on Congress.gov

Legislative Progress

✓ House

218–212

Senate

President

Law

Key Points

Congress is looking to simplify the rules for the massive fiber optic cables that lie on the ocean floor. These cables are the backbone of the global internet, carrying nearly all the data that travels between countries.
The proposal would stop the government from requiring extra permits for these cables if they are located in national marine sanctuaries. If a company already has permission from another state or federal agency, they would not need to get a second, separate approval for the same work.
This change covers everything from laying new cables to fixing old ones. By removing these extra steps, supporters hope to make it faster and cheaper to maintain the technology that keeps the world connected.
The bill still requires government agencies to work together to ensure that these activities do not harm the protected ocean environments where the cables are located.

Milestones

5 milestones29 actions

Feb 12, 2026Senate

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

Feb 11, 2026House

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

Feb 11, 2026House

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

Feb 11, 2026House

On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 218 - 212 (Roll no. 67).

Feb 11, 2026

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

Vote Results

2 votes

HouseFailedAmendmentFeb 11, 2026

On Motion to Recommit

214

216

Democrat

214 – 0

Republican

0 – 216 · 2

View full roll call

HousePassedPassageFeb 11, 2026

On Passage

218

212

Democrat

3 – 211

Republican

215 – 1 · 2

View full roll call

Related Bills

3 bills

H.Res. 1042Related bill

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.

Feb 10 — Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

H.Res. 1057Related bill

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.

Feb 11 — Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

S. 2873Identical bill

Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025

Sep 18 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.