Legis Daily

Undersea Cable Control Act

USA119th CongressHR-2503| House 
| Updated: 9/3/2025
Thomas H. Kean

Thomas H. Kean

Republican Representative

New Jersey

Cosponsors (2)
Brad Sherman (Democratic)Michael Lawler (Republican)

Foreign Affairs Committee, Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This bill directs the President, acting through the Secretary of Commerce and in coordination with the Secretary of State, to formulate a comprehensive strategy. This strategy aims to eliminate the availability to foreign adversaries of items required for supporting undersea cables , aligning with existing U.S. export control policy. It mandates the identification of specific items crucial for the construction, maintenance, or operation of undersea cable projects. The strategy must also detail existing U.S. and multilateral export controls and licensing policies for these items concerning foreign adversaries. It requires identifying key U.S. allies and partners with significant global market shares for these items, along with descriptions of their availability. Furthermore, the strategy will outline ongoing negotiations with other countries to achieve unified export controls and licensing policies to prevent adversary access. Beyond strategy development, the bill mandates the President to submit annual reports to Congress for three years, detailing the strategy and its implementation. Within one year, the President must also seek to establish bilateral or multilateral agreements with allies to further restrict adversary access to these items, including provisions for noncompliance. The Secretary of Commerce is tasked with evaluating and implementing appropriate export controls, potentially adding these technologies to the Commerce Control List, considering potential end uses and users.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
3 versions available

Suggested Questions

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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-1189
Undersea Cable Control Act
Mar 31, 2025
Introduced in House
Mar 31, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Apr 9, 2025
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Apr 9, 2025
Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
Sep 2, 2025
Mr. Baumgartner moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Sep 2, 2025
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3733-3734)
Sep 2, 2025
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2503.
Sep 2, 2025
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
Sep 2, 2025
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3733-3734: 1)
Sep 2, 2025
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Sep 3, 2025
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-1189
    Undersea Cable Control Act


  • March 31, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • March 31, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.


  • April 9, 2025
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held


  • April 9, 2025
    Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.


  • September 2, 2025
    Mr. Baumgartner moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.


  • September 2, 2025
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3733-3734)


  • September 2, 2025
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2503.


  • September 2, 2025
    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.


  • September 2, 2025
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3733-3734: 1)


  • September 2, 2025
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • September 3, 2025
    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

International Affairs

AsiaBroadcasting, cable, digital technologiesChinaCongressional oversightLicensing and registrationsTechnology assessmentTechnology transfer and commercializationTrade restrictions

Undersea Cable Control Act

USA119th CongressHR-2503| House 
| Updated: 9/3/2025
This bill directs the President, acting through the Secretary of Commerce and in coordination with the Secretary of State, to formulate a comprehensive strategy. This strategy aims to eliminate the availability to foreign adversaries of items required for supporting undersea cables , aligning with existing U.S. export control policy. It mandates the identification of specific items crucial for the construction, maintenance, or operation of undersea cable projects. The strategy must also detail existing U.S. and multilateral export controls and licensing policies for these items concerning foreign adversaries. It requires identifying key U.S. allies and partners with significant global market shares for these items, along with descriptions of their availability. Furthermore, the strategy will outline ongoing negotiations with other countries to achieve unified export controls and licensing policies to prevent adversary access. Beyond strategy development, the bill mandates the President to submit annual reports to Congress for three years, detailing the strategy and its implementation. Within one year, the President must also seek to establish bilateral or multilateral agreements with allies to further restrict adversary access to these items, including provisions for noncompliance. The Secretary of Commerce is tasked with evaluating and implementing appropriate export controls, potentially adding these technologies to the Commerce Control List, considering potential end uses and users.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
3 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-1189
Undersea Cable Control Act
Mar 31, 2025
Introduced in House
Mar 31, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Apr 9, 2025
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Apr 9, 2025
Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
Sep 2, 2025
Mr. Baumgartner moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Sep 2, 2025
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3733-3734)
Sep 2, 2025
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2503.
Sep 2, 2025
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
Sep 2, 2025
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3733-3734: 1)
Sep 2, 2025
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Sep 3, 2025
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-1189
    Undersea Cable Control Act


  • March 31, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • March 31, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.


  • April 9, 2025
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held


  • April 9, 2025
    Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.


  • September 2, 2025
    Mr. Baumgartner moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.


  • September 2, 2025
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3733-3734)


  • September 2, 2025
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2503.


  • September 2, 2025
    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.


  • September 2, 2025
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3733-3734: 1)


  • September 2, 2025
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • September 3, 2025
    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Thomas H. Kean

Thomas H. Kean

Republican Representative

New Jersey

Cosponsors (2)
Brad Sherman (Democratic)Michael Lawler (Republican)

Foreign Affairs Committee, Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee

International Affairs

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
AsiaBroadcasting, cable, digital technologiesChinaCongressional oversightLicensing and registrationsTechnology assessmentTechnology transfer and commercializationTrade restrictions