I
119THCONGRESS
1
STSESSION H. R. 261
To amend the National Marine Sanctuaries Act to prohibit requiring an
authorization for the installation, continued presence, operation, mainte-
nance, 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.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY9, 2025
Mr. C
ARTERof Georgia (for himself, Mr. DUNNof Florida, Mrs. CAMMACK,
Mrs. K
IGGANSof Virginia, Mr. FRY, and Mr. PFLUGER) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
A BILL
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 sanc-
tuary if such activities have previously been authorized
by a Federal or State agency.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Undersea Cable Pro-4
tection Act of 2025’’. 5
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SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON REQUIRING AUTHORIZATIONS 1
FOR UNDERSEA FIBER OPTIC CABLES PRE-2
VIOUSLY AUTHORIZED BY FEDERAL OR 3
STATE AGENCIES. 4
The National Marine Sanctuaries Act (16 U.S.C. 5
1431 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 310 6
the following: 7
‘‘SEC. 310A. PROHIBITION ON REQUIRING AUTHORIZA-8
TIONS FOR UNDERSEA FIBER OPTIC CABLES 9
PREVIOUSLY AUTHORIZED BY FEDERAL OR 10
STATE AGENCIES. 11
‘‘(a) I
NGENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other pro-12
vision of this Act, the Secretary may not prohibit or re-13
quire any authorization for the installation, continued 14
presence, operation, maintenance, repair, or recovery of 15
undersea fiber optic cables in a national marine sanctuary 16
if a license, lease, or permit has been issued by a Federal 17
or State agency authorizing such installation, continued 18
presence, operation, maintenance, repair, or recovery. 19
‘‘(b) I
NTERAGENCY COOPERATION.—The Secretary 20
may direct the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin-21
istration to engage in interagency cooperation under sec-22
tion 304(d) in any Federal agency action described in that 23
section and involving the installation, continued presence, 24
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operation, maintenance, repair, or recovery of undersea 1
fiber optic cables in a national marine sanctuary.’’. 2
Æ
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