Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025
Sponsor: Earl Carter (R-GA)
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.
Public Lands and Natural Resources Topic assigned by the Congressional Research Service.
Who won, and how much of the country was behind them
The dotted gap is 1.1% of U.S. adults whose member did not vote, voted “present,” or whose seat was vacant.
| Side | Outcome | Votes | Share of U.S. adults |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yea | Won | 218 | 50.8% |
| Nay | Lost | 212 | 48.1% |
| Not represented on this question | No position taken | 0 | 1.1% |