119th Congress · introduced in the House · Jan 9, 2025
Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025
Official title from Congress.gov
Latest action (Feb 12, 2026): Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
View on Congress.govPolicy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Congressional Research Service summary, version: 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.
Includes amendment, cloture, and procedural votes. Each is labeled with its exact question; only a passage question is a vote to pass the bill.
House · Feb 11, 2026 · Roll call 67 · Passed
House · Feb 11, 2026 · Roll call 66 · Failed
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 218 - 212 (Roll no. 67). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H2162) Roll call details
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 218 - 212 (Roll no. 67). Roll call details
On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 214 - 216 (Roll no. 66). Roll call details
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2169-2171)
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on H.R. 261, the Chair put the question on motion to recommit and by voice vote, announced the noes had prevailed. Mr. Carbajal demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
The previous question on the motion to recommit was ordered pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XIX.
Mr. Carbajal moved to recommit to the Committee on Natural Resources. (text: CR H2166)
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 261.
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.
Broadcasting, cable, digital technologies · Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
LD-2 reports whose issue descriptions explicitly cite this bill (bill type and number validated against Congress.gov records). A citation does not establish the client's position or any contact with a member.
Loading lobbying reportsConsidered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1057. (consideration: CR H2161-2166)
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.
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.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 146.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-181.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-181.
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 25 - 18.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Discharged
Subcommittee Hearings Held
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries.
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Actions from Congress.gov, newest first.
Coverage: reports for 2025 onward, posted Jan 1, 2025 through Oct 23, 2026.
23 citations.
META PLATFORMS, INC. AND VARIOUS SUBSIDIARIES · lobbying firm or registrant: META PLATFORMS, INC. AND VARIOUS SUBSIDIARIES
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 20, 2026 · issue area: Telecommunications
$5,880,000
Spent on own lobbying
Issues related to infrastructure and subsea cable systems in the US and globally; H.R. 261, Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025; S. 3249, Strategic Subsea Cables Act of 2026
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
MICROSOFT CORPORATION · lobbying firm or registrant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 20, 2026 · issue area: Telecommunications
$2,440,000
Spent on own lobbying
Robocalling. Robotexting. H.R 1027, QUIET Act. H.R. 866, S. 244, ROUTERS Act. Subsea Cables. H.R. 261 Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025. S. 3249, Strategic Subsea Cables Act of 2025. Telecom supply chain and network security. H.R. 6152, Robocall Elimination…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
NEC CORPORATION OF AMERICA · lobbying firm or registrant: NEC CORPORATION OF AMERICA
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 19, 2026 · issue area: Telecommunications
$85,000
Spent on own lobbying
…Essential Cables through Undersea Risk Elimination (SECURE) American Telecommunications Act S. 3249 / H.R. 8069 - Strategic Subsea Cables Act of 2025 S. 2873 / H.R. 261 - Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
META PLATFORMS, INC. AND VARIOUS SUBSIDIARIES · lobbying firm or registrant: META PLATFORMS, INC. AND VARIOUS SUBSIDIARIES
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 20, 2026 · issue area: Telecommunications
$5,990,000
Spent on own lobbying
Issues related to infrastructure and subsea cable systems in the US and globally; H.R. 261, Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025; S. 3249, Strategic Subsea Cables Act of 2026
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
EARTHJUSTICE ACTION · lobbying firm or registrant: EARTHJUSTICE ACTION
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · amended · posted Jul 20, 2026 · issue area: Natural Resources
$188,300
Spent on own lobbying
…Parity Act H.R. 8496 -- Marine Mammal Climate Change Protection Act H.R. 5749 Marine Fisheries Habitat Protection Act H.R. 8845/S. 2354 FY27 CJS Appropriations H.R. 261 - Undersea Cable Protection Act H.R. 5587 - HEATS Act H.R. 8308 - CERTAIN Act H.R. 9850 - Great America Outdoors Act H.R. 9335 - Advanced Transmission Technolo…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
MICROSOFT CORPORATION · lobbying firm or registrant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 20, 2026 · issue area: Telecommunications
$2,690,000
Spent on own lobbying
Robocalling. Robotexting. H.R 1027, QUIET Act. H.R. 866, S. 244, ROUTERS Act. Subsea Cables. H.R. 261 Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025. S. 3249, Strategic Subsea Cables Act of 2025. Telecom supply chain and network security.
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
NEC CORPORATION OF AMERICA · lobbying firm or registrant: NEC CORPORATION OF AMERICA
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 20, 2026 · issue area: Telecommunications
$85,000
Spent on own lobbying
…Essential Cables through Undersea Risk Elimination (SECURE) American Telecommunications Act S. 3249 / H.R. 8069 - Strategic Subsea Cables Act of 2025 S. 2873 / H.R. 261 - Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
CLOUDFACTORS LLC · lobbying firm or registrant: CLOUDFACTORS LLC
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 18, 2026 · issue area: Telecommunications
Amount not reported
Robocalling. Robotexting. H.R 1027, QUIET Act. Telecom Network Security. H.R. 866, S. 244, ROUTERS Act. Accessibility. Subsea Cables. H.R. 261 Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025.
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. View filing
NEC CORPORATION OF AMERICA · lobbying firm or registrant: NEC CORPORATION OF AMERICA
2026 Q1 report (Jan 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2026) · posted Apr 21, 2026 · issue area: Telecommunications
$85,000
Spent on own lobbying
…Essential Cables through Undersea Risk Elimination (SECURE) American Telecommunications Act S. 3249 / H.R. 8069 - Strategic Subsea Cables Act of 2025 S. 2873 / H.R. 261 - Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
EARTHJUSTICE ACTION · lobbying firm or registrant: EARTHJUSTICE ACTION
2026 Q1 report (Jan 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2026) · posted Apr 20, 2026 · issue area: Natural Resources
$111,651
Spent on own lobbying
…ands (no bill number) H.R. 5745 - Marine Fisheries and Habitat Prevention Act SHIFT Act (no bill number yet) ESA Amendments Act Defense FY27 CJS Appropriations H.R. 261 - Undersea Cable Protection Act Shark Bill - (no bill number) H.R. 7656 - The Removing and Sequestering Carbon Unleashed in the Environment and Oceans Act NEPA
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
META PLATFORMS, INC. AND VARIOUS SUBSIDIARIES · lobbying firm or registrant: META PLATFORMS, INC. AND VARIOUS SUBSIDIARIES
2026 Q1 report (Jan 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2026) · posted Apr 20, 2026 · issue area: Telecommunications
$7,080,000
Spent on own lobbying
Issues related to infrastructure and subsea cable systems in the US and globally; H.R. 261, Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
MICROSOFT CORPORATION · lobbying firm or registrant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
2026 Q1 report (Jan 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2026) · posted Apr 20, 2026 · issue area: Telecommunications
$2,390,000
Spent on own lobbying
Robocalling. Robotexting. H.R 1027, QUIET Act. Telecom Network Security. H.R. 866, S. 244, ROUTERS Act. Subsea Cables. H.R. 261 Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025.
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
PC LANDING CORP. · lobbying firm or registrant: WOMBLE BOND DICKINSON US LLP
2026 Q1 report (Jan 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2026) · posted Apr 20, 2026 · issue area: Communications/Broadcasting/Radio/TV
$90,000
Paid to lobbying firm
Federal policies and process that impact submarine cable infrastructure, including Undersea Cable Protection Act (H.R. 261 / S. 2873).
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
CLOUDFACTORS LLC · lobbying firm or registrant: CLOUDFACTORS LLC
2026 Q1 report (Jan 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2026) · posted Apr 11, 2026 · issue area: Telecommunications
Amount not reported
Robocalling. Robotexting. H.R 1027, QUIET Act. Telecom Network Security. H.R. 866, S. 244, ROUTERS Act. Accessibility. Subsea Cables. H.R. 261 Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025.
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. View filing
PC LANDING CORP. · lobbying firm or registrant: WOMBLE BOND DICKINSON US LLP
2025 Q4 report (Oct 1, 2025 – Dec 31, 2025) · posted Jan 20, 2026 · issue area: Communications/Broadcasting/Radio/TV
$30,000
Paid to lobbying firm
Federal policies and process that impact submarine cable infrastructure, including Undersea Cable Protection Act (H.R. 261 / S. 2873).
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
MICROSOFT CORPORATION · lobbying firm or registrant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
2025 Q4 report (Oct 1, 2025 – Dec 31, 2025) · posted Jan 20, 2026 · issue area: Telecommunications
$2,420,000
Spent on own lobbying
Robocalling. Robotexting. H.R 1027, QUIET Act. Telecom Network Security. H.R. 866, S. 244, ROUTERS Act. Accessibility. Subsea Cables. H.R. 261 Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025.
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF THE U.S.A. · lobbying firm or registrant: CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF THE U.S.A.
2025 Q4 report (Oct 1, 2025 – Dec 31, 2025) · posted Jan 20, 2026 · issue area: Telecommunications
$17,960,000
Spent on own lobbying
H.R. 261, Undersea Cable Security and Protection Act H.R. 633/S. 146, Take It Down Act H.R. 661, MIRACLE Medical Technology Act of 2025 H.R. 2385, Creating Resources fo…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF THE U.S.A. · lobbying firm or registrant: CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF THE U.S.A.
2025 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2025) · posted Oct 20, 2025 · issue area: Telecommunications
$13,650,000
Spent on own lobbying
H.R. 1, One Big Beautiful Bill Act H.R. 261, Undersea Cable Security and Protection Act H.R. 633/S. 146, Take It Down Act H.R. 661, MIRACLE Medical Technology Act of 2025 H.R. 2385, Creating Resources fo…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
PC LANDING CORP. · lobbying firm or registrant: WOMBLE BOND DICKINSON US LLP
2025 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2025) · posted Oct 20, 2025 · issue area: Communications/Broadcasting/Radio/TV
$20,000
Paid to lobbying firm
Federal policies and process that impact submarine cable infrastructure, including Undersea Cable Protection Act (H.R. 261 / S. 2873).
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
MICROSOFT CORPORATION · lobbying firm or registrant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
2025 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2025) · posted Oct 20, 2025 · issue area: Telecommunications
$2,020,000
Spent on own lobbying
Robocalling. Robotexting. H.R 1027, QUIET Act. Telecom Network Security. H.R. 866, S. 244, ROUTERS Act. Accessibility. Subsea Cables. H.R. 261 Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025.
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF THE U.S.A. · lobbying firm or registrant: CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF THE U.S.A.
2025 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2025 – Jun 30, 2025) · posted Jul 21, 2025 · issue area: Telecommunications
$19,340,000
Spent on own lobbying
H.R. 1, One Big Beautiful Bill Act H.R. 261, Undersea Cable Security and Protection Act H.R. 633/S. 146, Take It Down Act H.R. 661, MIRACLE Medical Technology Act of 2025 H.R. 2794/ S. 1367, The No Fakes…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
MICROSOFT CORPORATION · lobbying firm or registrant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
2025 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2025 – Jun 30, 2025) · posted Jul 21, 2025 · issue area: Telecommunications
$2,570,000
Spent on own lobbying
Robocalling. Robotexting. H.R 1027, QUIET Act. Telecom Network Security. H.R. 866, S. 244, ROUTERS Act. Accessibility. Subsea Cables. H.R. 261 Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025.
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF THE U.S.A. · lobbying firm or registrant: CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF THE U.S.A.
2025 Q1 report (Jan 1, 2025 – Mar 31, 2025) · posted Apr 21, 2025 · issue area: Telecommunications
$19,340,000
Spent on own lobbying
H.R. 261, Undersea Cable Security and Protection Act H.R. 633/S. 146, Take It Down Act H.R. 661, MIRACLE Medical Technology Act of 2025 Draft legislation titled Expandi…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing