NOAA can no longer block ocean cables in protected areas.

What it does

This bill changes how ocean cables are approved. It stops NOAA from saying no to cables if a state or the government already approved them. NOAA must still talk to other groups, but cannot block cables on its own. Cable companies can now build if they have a permit from any state or the government.

Who it affects

Cable companies can build ocean cables more easily. Protected ocean areas lose extra protection. Fish, sea animals, and fishing may face new risks from cables.

One thing to notice

NOAA used to add special rules for cables in protected areas. These rules covered burial depth and timing to avoid fish spawning. Now NOAA cannot add those rules.

From the analysis of the bill text, linked under Primary records below.

Where it stands

7 cosponsors: 7 Republicans.

• Jan 9, 2025 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in House”
• Jan 9, 2025 — Referred to House Committee on Natural Resources and Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation · Congress.gov: “Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources”
• Jan 23, 2025 — Hearing held · Congress.gov: “Subcommittee Hearings Held”
• Jun 25, 2025 — Markup held in committee · Congress.gov: “Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held”
• Jun 25, 2025 — Reported out of committee · Congress.gov: “Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 25 - 18”
• Feb 11, 2026 — Passed the House · Congress.gov: “On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 218 - 212 (Roll no. 67).”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.

Money around this bill

6 groups reported lobbying about this bill. They filed 7 reports from Dec 2025 to Jun 2026.

Those reports show $27,101,600 in lobbying spending. Each report lists about 28 bills. So that money was not all for this bill.

More groups named this bill than 82% of bills with any report.

Buddy Carter, who sponsored the bill, received $1,003,325 from PACs for the 2026 election.

• Chamber of Commerce of the U.S.A. — $17,960,000 in 1 report
• Meta Platforms, Inc. and Various Subsidiaries — $5,990,000 in 1 report
• Microsoft Corporation — $2,690,000 in 1 report
• Earthjustice Action — $376,600 in 2 reports
• Nec Corporation of America — $85,000 in 1 report

Lobbying is legal. These reports show who lobbied about this bill, not what changed.

Words to know

• NOAA — A government group that protects oceans and sea life.
• protected ocean areas — Parts of the ocean where the government limits activities to protect sea life.
• permit — Official permission from the government to do something.
• lobbying — Trying to influence lawmakers about a bill. Companies and groups pay people to do this.
• PACs — Groups that collect money and give it to candidates for office.
• sponsored — To sponsor a bill is to introduce it in Congress and put your name on it.