Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025: What It Does

What Do You Think?

How would you vote?

Referandom Vote

Vote to see the result.

Introduced, doneJanuary 9, 2025
Committee, doneJanuary 9, 2025
Floor Vote, doneFebruary 11, 2026
Outcome, current stage

How Congress Voted

Vote to see the result ↑

How Congress Voted

How Congress VotedOfficial Record

430members of the House voted

218 Yea, 212 Nay, 0 Present

2 Not Voting

Yea
Nay
Present
Not Voting

House votes by party
Party	Yea	Nay	Not Voting
Republican	215	1	2
Democrat	3	211	0
Total	218	212	2

Republican
Yea
215
Nay
1
Present
0
Not Voting
2
Democrat
Yea
3
Nay
211
Present
0
Not Voting
0

House roll call vote, February 11, 2026

What This Bill Does

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.

What Congress Said

Members who spoke about this bill on the floor, in their own words from the Congressional Record.

Republicans16 spoke

For the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only.
Chip RoyR-TX, House, February 11, 2026
I rise in support of this rule and in support of the underlying legislation. The rule before us once again exposes a fundamental divide in the House. Republicans are focused on protecting American lives, American infrastructure, and American national security.
Nicholas A. LangworthyR-NY, House, February 10, 2026
Many of these laws are implemented by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA. We will hear from our friends on the other side of the aisle that this bill hinders NOAA's ability to conduct an environmental review of these projects. That is simply not true.
Bruce WestermanR-AR, House, February 11, 2026

13 more speakers

I rise today in support of this rule and the SAVE America Act. This essential legislation would require, as we have said previously, proof of citizenship when registering to vote and the presentation of a valid ID when at the ballot box. Currently, only 13 States do not require any form of voter ID.
Gary J. PalmerR-AL, House, February 11, 2026
Let me be clear. This bill does not weaken environmental protections. All existing environmental laws, reviews, and interagency coordination requirements remain fully intact. This is about eliminating redundancy, not eliminating oversight.
Earl L. "Buddy" CarterR-GA, House, February 11, 2026
I rise today in strong support of the SAVE America Act. I am proud to cosponsor this bill.
Ben ClineR-VA, House, February 11, 2026
I rise in support of the resolution and in support of H.R. 2189, the Law-Enforcement Innovate to De-Escalate Act. This bill will put lifesaving, less lethal technology in the hands of more law enforcement and public safety officers.
Scott FitzgeraldR-WI, House, February 10, 2026
I rise today in strong support of the SAVE America Act, which implements commonsense measures backed by the vast majority of Americans, across party lines, to secure our elections and ensure that it is easy to vote but hard to cheat.
Andrew S. ClydeR-GA, House, February 11, 2026
I rise today to voice my support for this rule and to commend my colleague, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Roy). There is no greater advocate for law and order and election integrity than Mr. Roy, and the incredible people of Texas are well-served by his leadership and stewardship of our Constitution.
Brian JackR-GA, House, February 11, 2026
We need to show our citizenship when we register to vote. That is what has to happen in Arizona. It will work across the country. There is not a doubt in my mind, and I urge passage of this bill.
Andy BiggsR-AZ, House, February 11, 2026
I urge my colleagues to join me. Let us unify around the democratic principles that built this Republic. Let us pass the SAVE America Act to keep our elections exclusively in the hands of the American people.
Mike KennedyR-UT, House, February 11, 2026
Undersea cables are the backbone of our modern economy. These cables are no bigger than a garden hose but support over $10 trillion in international commerce on a daily basis.
Max L. MillerR-OH, House, February 11, 2026
I rise today in strong support of the rule. The American people deserve elections that they can trust, and this rule moves us just one step closer to restoring that trust.
Sheri BiggsR-SC, House, February 11, 2026
I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2189, the Law-Enforcement Innovate to De-Escalate Act of 2025, bipartisan legislation that modernizes our Federal firearms laws to better align with 21st century technology and the real-world needs of law enforcement officers and the communities they protect.
Mike EzellR-MS, House, February 10, 2026
had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 61.
Scott PerryR-PA, House, February 11, 2026
had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 67.
Rick W. AllenR-GA, House, February 11, 2026

Democrats15 spoke

I mean, that is what this bill is about. It is not about voter ID. It is about voter registration, and it is about voter suppression.
James P. McGovernD-MA, House, February 11, 2026
My district is home to one of our Nation's iconic marine sanctuaries. I can say without hesitation that my constituents don't want to see these industrial activities rip through our sensitive kelp forests that support fisheries and tourism.
Jared HuffmanD-CA, House, February 11, 2026
I am going to read you a quote: ``It will be the fourth time this rule vote putting a gag on tariff debates has been done. I don't think tariffs are good for the economy, manufacturing jobs, and ag industry. American consumers pay the tariffs and thus it is a big tax.
Joe NeguseD-CO, House, February 10, 2026

12 more speakers

I rise today in strong opposition to this rule, another reckless effort by the Republican majority to stop this House from doing something to stop the reckless Trump tariffs.
Hakeem S. JeffriesD-NY, House, February 10, 2026
On its face, this legislation may seem like a narrow procedural change of streamlining permitting for undersea fiber-optic cables. In reality, it strips away critical environmental and economic safeguards that we and the communities we represent depend on to help power our Nation's blue economy.
Salud O. CarbajalD-CA, House, February 11, 2026
It is Groundhog Day again in Washington, D.C. You know, this week is an opportunity to drive down electricity costs, create jobs at home by bolstering our exports of goods made in America. It is an opportunity to lower the cost of groceries and healthcare for families around our great country.
Gregory W. MeeksD-NY, House, February 10, 2026
I oppose the rule because it contains H.R. 2189, the Law-Enforcement Innovate to De-Escalate Act. This is a terrible bill and a billion-dollar giveaway to gun manufacturers wrapped in a deceiving title.
Maxwell FrostD-FL, House, February 10, 2026
The right to vote is sacred, and I will fight any effort to put more barriers in citizens' way to exercise it, and that is exactly what the SAVE America Act does. That is why I will oppose it.
Jennifer L. McClellanD-VA, House, February 11, 2026
My amendments sought to limit the harm that this bill would cause and ensure that every citizen had accessible and secure ways to register and cast a ballot. This seems normal to me. This isn't about ID. This is about access.
Julie JohnsonD-TX, House, February 11, 2026
If my colleagues think these sweeping tariffs are such a good idea, then vote for it, but stop hiding. We are not elected to dodge important issues just because we are afraid of the President. The Constitution gives Congress, not the President, authority over trade policy.
Suzan K. DelBeneD-WA, House, February 10, 2026
I rise in opposition to this bill. It is a solution in search of a problem, as the gentleman from Massachusetts just pointed out.
Johnny Olszewski, Jr.D-MD, House, February 11, 2026
Republicans continue to give President Trump a free pass to damage our economy and punish our American families with his illegal tariffs.
Linda T. SánchezD-CA, House, February 10, 2026
This bill doesn't secure elections. It shrinks the electorate. I find it so interesting that in real time we are having this conversation. When we talk about Black voters, we are going to talk about Black voters.
Lateefah SimonD-CA, House, February 11, 2026
I urge my colleagues to recognize the importance of the moment and to defeat the previous question. Once we do, the House can finally pass a stock trading ban.
Joseph D. MorelleD-NY, House, February 11, 2026
Let's be clear. A vote for this rule is a vote in favor of Trump's illegal tariffs. It is a vote for higher costs for the American people, and it is an abdication of our duty as Members of Congress.
Greg StantonD-AZ, House, February 10, 2026

Timeline

Feb 12, 2026SenateReceived in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Feb 11, 2026House floor actionsRules 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.
Feb 11, 2026Library of CongressPassed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 218 - 212 (Roll no. 67).
Feb 11, 2026Floor Vote
Feb 11, 2026Passed the House
Feb 9, 2026House floor actionsRules 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.
Jul 2, 2025House floor actionsReported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-181.
Jun 25, 2025House committee actionsSubcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Discharged
Jan 23, 2025House committee actionsSubcommittee Hearings Held
Jan 21, 2025House committee actionsReferred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries.
Jan 9, 2025Library of CongressIntroduced in House
Jan 9, 2025House floor actionsReferred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Jan 9, 2025Introduced
Jan 9, 2025Committee

Comments

Comments with insults, hate speech or personal information are removed.

Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025

What Do You Think?

What Happened in Congress?

How Congress Voted

How Congress Voted

How Each Member Voted

Yea 218

Nay 212

Not Voting 2

What This Bill Does

What Congress Said

Sponsors

Related Documents

Timeline

Comments

What Congress Said

What Do You Think?

What Happened in Congress?

Where the Bill Stands

How Congress Voted

How Congress Voted

How Each Member Voted

Yea 218

Nay 212

Not Voting 2

What This Bill Does

What Congress Said

Sponsors

Related Documents

Timeline

Comments

What Congress Said