Vote: On Motion to Recommit
U.S. HouseFeb 11, 2026Result: Failed
(214) (216) (0) (2)
House bill · H.R. 261 (119th Congress)
Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025
U.S. House of Representatives
Latest action Feb 12, 2026
Sponsor: Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (U.S. Representative, GA-1, Republican)
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From Congress.gov and official rosters. This record was last updated Aug 3, 2026. About our data
Summary
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.
Summary from the Congressional Research Service. How we handle summaries
Where it stands
Passed one of the two chambers; it still needs the other.
- Introduced
- In committee
- Up for a vote
- Passed one chamber
- Passed
- Enacted
Committee
House Committee on Natural Resources · U.S. House of Representatives
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Cosponsors
7
Cosponsors listed on Congress.gov, shown A to Z.
- Republican7
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Recorded votes
Vote: On Passage
U.S. HouseFeb 11, 2026Result: Passed
(218) (212) (0) (2)
Related bills
- S. 2873Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025Identical bill
- H.Res. 1042Providing 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.Related bill, procedurally related
- H.Res. 1057Providing 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.Related bill, procedurally related
As identified by Congress.gov.
Full history
- Feb 12, 2026
In committee
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
U.S. House
- Feb 12, 2026
Sent to the executive
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
U.S. Senate
- Feb 11, 2026
Debate - the House Proceeded With One Hour of Debate on H.R. 261.
DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 261.
U.S. House of Representatives
- Feb 11, 2026
On Motion to Recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 214 - 216 (roll no. 66).
On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 214 - 216 (Roll no. 66).
- Feb 11, 2026
On Motion to Recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 214 - 216 (roll no. 66).
On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 214 - 216 (Roll no. 66).
Show full history (31 earlier events)Show less history
- Feb 11, 2026
On Motion to Recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 214 - 216 (roll no. 66).
On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 214 - 216 (Roll no. 66).
- Feb 11, 2026
Passed a chamber
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 218 - 212 (Roll no. 67).
U.S. House of Representatives
- Feb 11, 2026
Reported out of committee
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.
U.S. House of Representatives
- Feb 11, 2026
Passed a chamber
The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
- Feb 11, 2026
Passed a chamber
The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
- Feb 11, 2026
Passed a chamber
The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
- Feb 9, 2026
Reported out of committee
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.
U.S. House of Representatives
- Jul 2, 2025
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 146.
- Jul 2, 2025
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 146.
- Jul 2, 2025
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 146.
- Jul 2, 2025
Reported out of committee
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-181.
- Jul 2, 2025
Reported out of committee
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-181.
- Jul 2, 2025
Reported out of committee
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-181.
- Jun 25, 2025
Committee vote
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Jun 25, 2025
Committee vote
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Jun 25, 2025
Committee vote
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Jun 25, 2025
Reported out of committee
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 25 - 18.
- Jun 25, 2025
Reported out of committee
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 25 - 18.
- Jun 25, 2025
Reported out of committee
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 25 - 18.
- Jun 25, 2025
In committee
Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Discharged
- Jun 25, 2025
In committee
Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Discharged
- Jun 25, 2025
In committee
Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Discharged
- Jan 23, 2025
Hearing held
Subcommittee Hearings Held
- Jan 23, 2025
Hearing held
Subcommittee Hearings Held
- Jan 23, 2025
Hearing held
Subcommittee Hearings Held
- Jan 21, 2025
Referred to committee
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries.
- Jan 21, 2025
Referred to committee
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries.
- Jan 21, 2025
Referred to committee
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries.
- Jan 9, 2025
Introduced
Introduced in House
U.S. House of Representatives
- Jan 9, 2025
Introduced
Introduced in U.S. House
U.S. House
- Jan 9, 2025
Referred to committee
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
U.S. House of Representatives
Read the record
- Read on Congress.gov (opens in a new tab) The official record on Congress.gov.