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

This section prohibits the Secretary of Commerce from prohibiting or requiring any permit or other authorization for the installation, continued presence, operation, maintenance, repair, or recovery of undersea fiber optic cables in a national marine sanctuary (i.e., specially designated ocean or coastal areas protected under the National Marine Sanctuaries Act) if such activities are already authorized by an effective federal or state license, lease, or permit. The section does not alter existing interagency cooperation requirements for federal agency actions involving such cables.

This section removes two requirements applicable to special use permits issued by the Secretary of Commerce for activities in national marine sanctuaries (i.e., NOAA-designated areas to conserve marine ecosystems, habitats, and cultural resources). Specifically, it eliminates (1) the restriction against authorizing any activity for a period of more than five years unless renewed and (2) the mandate that activities be conducted in a manner that does not destroy, cause the loss of, or injure sanctuary resources (while retaining the requirements for compatibility with sanctuary purposes and protection of resources, and for permittee liability insurance).