Committee approves Undersea Cable Protection Act after dispute over NOAA permits, fees and sanctuary protections

The House Natural Resources Committee adopted an amendment in the nature of a substitute and ordered reported H.R. 2,61, the Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025, after contentious debate over whether the bill would remove essential NOAA oversight of projects in National Marine Sanctuaries.

Representative Buddy Carter, sponsor of the bill, and Chair Westerman argued the measure would streamline permitting for undersea fiber‑optic cables that carry the bulk of global internet traffic, saying the bill does not exempt projects from statutes such as the National Environmental Policy Act but would eliminate the need for a separate National Marine Sanctuary Act special‑use permit when other federal and state permits are in place.

Ranking Member Huffman and several Democrats said the bill would grant "a free pass" to billion‑dollar technology companies by removing NOAA's ability to require environmental reviews, insurance, fair‑market fees and tribal consultation under sanctuary authorities. Huffman described past cable project failures and environmental harm, and requested safeguards to ensure that companies pay to clean up any damage and that NOAA retain meaningful oversight.

Representative Hoyle, citing the 2020 Facebook‑linked cable incident off the Oregon coast, described specific debris and pollution from a failed drilling operation and said the bill as written would weaken liability protections and allow companies to avoid paying for cleanup. Hoyle and others urged bipartisan work on a compromise that would both streamline permitting and preserve sanctuary protections.

Representative Westerman's ANS clarified that the bill would not exempt projects from NEPA, the Endangered Species Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, Magnuson‑Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the National Historic Preservation Act, or the Coastal Zone Management Act, but it would prohibit NOAA from requiring an additional sanctuary special‑use permit where other permits have been issued. Ranking Member Huffman offered an amendment to preserve NOAA's sanctuary authorities (including public notice, insurance, and fair‑market fees); that amendment was defeated on a recorded vote. The committee then adopted the Westerman ANS and ordered the bill reported to the House with a final recorded tally of 25 yeas and 18 nays.

Debate referenced national marine sanctuaries across multiple coasts, NOAA's role in protecting sanctuary resources, tribal consultation requirements, and the economic value of sanctuaries. Supporters emphasized the need for route diversity and timely permitting to protect national security and global communications. Opponents emphasized environmental safeguards, liability, and the economic importance of coastal tourism, fishing and small businesses that operate in sanctuary areas.

The committee recessed after adopting the ANS and set no floor schedule in the markup record.