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119th Congress Public Lands and Natural Resources

H.R. 261: Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025

Passed HouseFeb 11, 2026

  1. Introduced (completed)Jan 9, 2025
  2. Passed House (completed)Feb 11, 2026, 218–212
  3. Passed Senate (not reached)
  4. To the President (not reached)
  5. Became law (not reached)

Summary

Introduced in House, Jan 9, 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 the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.

Key votes

House final vote, Feb 11, 2026

On Passage

Passed 218–212

Yea 218majority 216Nay 212

  • Democrats3 yea, 211 nay
  • Republicans214 yea, 1 nay
  • Independents1 yea, 0 nay

Broke with their party: Adam Gray (D-CA), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Jim Costa (D-CA) voted Yea; Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) voted Nay

See how all 430 members voted

Showing 432 of 432 members

Yea 218

Republicans (214)

Democrats (3) broke with their party

Independents (1)

Nay 212

Republicans (1) broke with their party

Democrats (211)

Not voting 2

Republicans (2)

Senate

Not yet voted

Passed the House Feb 11, 2026. Awaiting Senate action.

Roll calls

2 votes on this bill

Showing 2 of 2 roll calls

  • Feb 11, 2026HouseOn PassageFinal passagePassed, yea-nay 218–212
    Roll call 67 tally by party
    PartyYeaNayPresentNot voting
    Democrats321100
    Republicans214102
    Independents1000
    Total21821202

    House roll call 67: On Passage. Passed.

    4 crossed party lines: 3 Democrats, 1 Republican

    How each member voted (432)
  • Feb 11, 2026HouseMotion to recommitFailed, yea-nay 214–216
    Roll call 66 tally by party
    PartyYeaNayPresentNot voting
    Democrats214000
    Republicans021502
    Independents0100
    Total21421602

    House roll call 66: On Motion to Recommit. Failed.

    How each member voted (432)

Amendments

0 offered

No amendments were offered to this bill.

Cosponsors

7

Who scored on this bill

114 points earned
  1. 1Earl Carter R-GA SponsorIntroduced, marked up, reported, passed House4 events+62
  2. 2Jim Costa D-CA1 maverick vote1 event+6
  3. 2Brian Fitzpatrick R-PA1 maverick vote1 event+6
  4. 2Josh Gottheimer D-NJ1 maverick vote1 event+6
  5. 2Adam Gray D-CA1 maverick vote1 event+6
See all scorers and every scoring event

Introductions and cosponsorships count toward weekly caps and show no points.

Other bills by Earl Carter

History

  1. Feb 11, 2026Passed the House, 218–212.
  2. Jan 9, 2025Introduced in the House by Earl Carter.
Show the full action history (25 actions)
  1. Feb 12, 2026Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  2. Feb 11, 2026Rules 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.
  3. Feb 11, 2026Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1057. (consideration: CR H2161-2166)
  4. Feb 11, 2026Rule 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.
  5. Feb 11, 2026DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 261.
  6. Feb 11, 2026The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
  7. Feb 11, 2026Mr. Carbajal moved to recommit to the Committee on Natural Resources. (text: CR H2166)
  8. Feb 11, 2026The previous question on the motion to recommit was ordered pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XIX.
  9. Feb 11, 2026POSTPONED 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.
  10. Feb 11, 2026Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2169-2171)
  11. Feb 11, 2026On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 214 - 216 (Roll no. 66).
  12. Feb 11, 2026Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 218 - 212 (Roll no. 67).
  13. Feb 11, 2026On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 218 - 212 (Roll no. 67). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H2162)
  14. Feb 11, 2026Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  15. Feb 11, 2026The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
  16. Feb 9, 2026Rules 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.
  17. Jul 2, 2025Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-181.
  18. Jul 2, 2025Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 146.
  19. Jun 25, 2025Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Discharged
  20. Jun 25, 2025Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
  21. Jun 25, 2025Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 25 - 18.
  22. Jan 23, 2025Subcommittee Hearings Held
  23. Jan 21, 2025Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries.
  24. Jan 9, 2025Introduced in House
  25. Jan 9, 2025Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.