WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) and Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) today celebrated the House of Representatives passing their Undersea Cable Protection Act, a bill strengthening national security and global connectivity by safeguarding the United States’ submarine cable infrastructure.
The bill, which now heads to the Senate, accomplishes these goals by ensuring diversity of routes for national security, eliminating duplicative permitting laws, and promoting rather than delaying the deployment and maintenance of submarine cables. It also preserves existing local, state, and federal permitting rules and protects national marine sanctuaries.
“By passing this bill, we are advancing President Trump’s mandate to strengthen national security and cut burdensome red tape. Streamlining and improving the permitting processes behind our submarine cable infrastructure will help advance global connectivity and speed up deployment and maintenance, ensuring our cables are not subject to attacks from hostile foreign nations such as China,” said Rep. Carter.
“Undersea networks are a major component of global connectivity and our digital economy,” said Senator Blackburn. “The Undersea Cable Protection Act would ensure that undersea cables can be built and preserved without duplicative, burdensome, and unnecessary federal regulations. I’m thrilled to see this pass the House, and I’m looking forward to its passage in the Senate, which will deliver a critical win for America’s digital infrastructure, national security, and economic competitiveness.”
"Undersea cables carry our global internet traffic and digital communications, serving as a critical piece of infrastructure that keeps us connected to the world. Because of burdensome federal regulations that impose undue burdens on projects, we haven’t laid new cables in marine sanctuaries in more than 20 years. Rep. Carter’s bill helps cut red tape, ensuring the United States can meet future technological demands," said House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-AR)
Read full bill text here.
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