H.R. 2503 Passed the House International Affairs

Undersea Cable Control Act

To require the development of a strategy to eliminate the availability to foreign adversaries of goods and technologies capable of supporting undersea cables, and for other purposes.

  1. Introduced
  2. Committee
  3. Passed House
  4. Passed Senate
  5. To President
  6. Became law
Sponsor Rep. Kean, Thomas H. [R-NJ-7] Introduced March 31, 2025 Cosponsors 2 (1 R, 1 D) Latest action September 3, 2025

Summary

Undersea Cable Control Act
This bill requires the President and the Department of Commerce to take certain actions to prevent foreign adversaries from acquiring items needed to support the construction, maintenance, or operation of undersea cable projects. For the purposes of this bill, a foreign adversary is any foreign government or nongovernment person (entity or individual) engaged in certain conduct that significantly and adversely affects U.S. national security.
Within one year of the bill's enactment, the President must seek to enter into agreements with allies and partners to prevent such items from being available to foreign adversaries.
Furthermore, Commerce must determine the appropriate level of export and transfer controls for such items under the Export Administration Regulations.
The bill also requires Commerce to develop a strategy to prevent such items from being available to foreign adversaries. The President must report annually to Congress on this strategy.

Summary by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.

Congress.gov

Actions

  1. Sep 3, 2025 Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
  2. Sep 2, 2025 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  3. Sep 2, 2025 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3733-3734)
  4. Sep 2, 2025 Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
  5. Sep 2, 2025 DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2503.
  6. Sep 2, 2025 Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3733-3734)
  7. Sep 2, 2025 Mr. Baumgartner moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
  8. Apr 9, 2025 Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
  9. Apr 9, 2025 Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
  10. Mar 31, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
  11. Mar 31, 2025 Introduced in House

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