Undersea Cable Control Act

Bill Number: H.R. 2503
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 1
Policy Area: International Affairs
Status: Passed House
Latest Action: 2025-09-03: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Last Updated: 2026-07-11T02:53:21Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The Undersea Cable Control Act (H.R. 2503) aims to protect U.S. national security by developing a strategy to prevent foreign adversaries—such as countries posing security risks—from accessing goods and technologies needed for building, maintaining, or operating undersea cables. These cables are vital for global internet, telecommunications, and data transmission. The law aligns with existing U.S. export control policies to restrict sensitive items while promoting cooperation with allies.

Key Provisions

Strategy Development: The President, through the Secretary of Commerce and in coordination with the Secretary of State, must create a comprehensive strategy to block foreign adversaries' access to relevant items. This strategy must address:
Identifying specific goods and technologies essential for undersea cable projects.
Reviewing current U.S. and international export controls and licensing rules for these items targeting adversaries.
Assessing U.S. allies and partners' market shares in these items, including their availability without restrictions in sufficient quantities and quality comparable to U.S. products.
Detailing negotiations with other countries for unified export controls.
Identifying entities controlled by foreign adversaries involved in undersea cable activities, where feasible.
Promoting U.S. leadership in international standards-setting bodies for undersea cable-related equipment, software, and networks.
Describing foreign adversaries' involvement in these standards bodies, including security risks from their proposals compared to U.S. and allied engagement.
Reporting Requirements: A report containing the strategy must be submitted to specified congressional committees (House Foreign Affairs Committee and Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee) within 180 days of enactment, and annually for three years. Reports will be unclassified, may include a classified annex, and must be posted on a public federal website.
International Agreements: Within one year of enactment, the President must pursue bilateral or multilateral agreements with identified allies and partners to restrict access to these items by adversaries, including penalties for noncompliance. Congress must receive briefings on these negotiations starting 30 days after the initial report and every 180 days until agreements are reached.
Export Control Actions: The Secretary of Commerce must evaluate identified items for new restrictions under the Export Administration Regulations (rules governing U.S. exports of controlled goods). This includes deciding whether to add technologies to the Commerce Control List (a catalog of items requiring export licenses). Evaluations will consider potential end uses and users, with a U.S. policy to at least control exports to countries under U.S. embargoes (like arms embargoes). Annual unclassified notifications to Congress will detail evaluations, decisions, and rationales based on national security and foreign policy.
Definitions: Key terms include "foreign adversary" (as defined in a 2019 law, generally covering nations like China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea that threaten U.S. communications security); "item" (goods, software, or technology under export rules); and the relevant congressional committees.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This act introduces new mandates building on the Export Control Reform Act of 2018, which already guides U.S. export policies for national security. It does not amend prior laws directly but adds requirements for a dedicated undersea cable strategy, mandatory international agreements with penalties, enhanced standards-body engagement, and specific evaluations for adding items to export control lists. These steps expand proactive restrictions beyond general export rules, focusing on undersea infrastructure as a critical vulnerability.

Potential Impacts

Government Agencies: Increases workload for the Departments of Commerce, State, and Defense in developing strategies, negotiating agreements, evaluating exports, and reporting to Congress. This could strain resources but strengthen interagency coordination on national security.
Citizens: Indirect benefits through enhanced protection of undersea cables, which underpin everyday internet and financial services; however, stricter export controls might raise costs for U.S. companies in the telecom sector if they limit global supply chains.
International Relations: Promotes closer ties with U.S. allies via joint controls and standards leadership, potentially isolating adversaries. It may heighten tensions with those countries by restricting their access to vital technologies, affecting global undersea cable projects (which carry 99% of international data traffic).

Main Stakeholders Affected

U.S. Government: Executive branch agencies (Commerce, State, Defense) for implementation; Congress for oversight and briefings.
U.S. Businesses and Industry: Telecom and tech firms involved in undersea cables, who may face new licensing hurdles or opportunities in allied markets.
Allies and Partners: Countries with significant market shares in cable technologies (e.g., Japan, European nations), required to join agreements restricting adversaries.
Foreign Adversaries: Nations like China and Russia, whose entities will face barriers to acquiring U.S. or allied items, potentially slowing their undersea infrastructure projects.
International Organizations: Standards-setting bodies (e.g., those for telecom equipment), influenced by U.S.-led efforts to counter adversarial proposals.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Legal: Reinforces executive authority under existing export laws without new constitutional challenges, but requires transparency via public reports and congressional notifications, upholding separation of powers. Compliance with international trade rules (e.g., WTO) could be tested if controls are seen as overly broad.
Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's commerce and foreign affairs powers (Article I, Section 8), delegating implementation to the President while mandating oversight.
Political: Signals a bipartisan focus on supply chain security amid geopolitical rivalries, potentially boosting U.S. tech dominance but risking retaliation from adversaries. It highlights undersea cables as "critical infrastructure," elevating their status in national security debates without partisan bias in the text.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Kean, Thomas H. [R-NJ-7]

Cosponsors (2)

Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32]

Recent Actions

2025-09-03: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
2025-09-02: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2025-09-02: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3733-3734)
2025-09-02: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
2025-09-02: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2503.
2025-09-02: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3733-3734)
2025-09-02: Mr. Baumgartner moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
2025-04-09: Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
2025-04-09: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
2025-03-31: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
2025-03-31: Introduced in House
2025-03-31: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

Undersea Cable Control Act — issued 2025-09-02 — PDF (8 pages)
Undersea Cable Control Act — issued 2025-03-31 — PDF (7 pages)
Undersea Cable Control Act — issued 2025-09-03 — PDF (7 pages)