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S. 3249119th CongressPlaced on the calendarLatest action Feb 10, 2026Decoded by AI · checked against the record
Official title: Strategic Subsea Cables Act of 2026
Introduced:
Read the official bill on Congress.govThe plain-language version leads. The official text is always the reference.
S 3249 creates an interagency committee and sanctions authority to protect undersea fiber-optic cables from foreign sabotage.
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S 3249 would establish a new interagency committee drawing together the Departments of State, Defense, and Homeland Security to coordinate security, permitting, construction, and repair of undersea fiber-optic cables. The bill also grants the President authority to impose sanctions, including asset freezes and visa bans, on foreign individuals or entities that intentionally damage these cables in ways that harm U.S. national security. Additionally, it requires regular congressional reports on cable-related activities by China and Russia, including their deep-ocean cutting capabilities and ship movements near cable networks.
Federal agencies would be required to build new coordination systems and hire dedicated undersea cable experts, including new State Department staff and a stronger U.S. presence in the International Cable Protection Committee. Private companies that own and operate undersea cables would gain a clearer government point of contact and improved access to threat information.
The cables covered by this bill carry most of the world's internet traffic across oceans, and Congress has identified hostile foreign actors as a potential threat to their integrity. Disruption to these cables could affect global internet connectivity that millions of people rely on daily.
AI-drafted summary. Verify it against the official text before you act on it. Read the official bill on Congress.gov
Right now: it was placed on the Senate floor calendar, and the official record shows no floor action on it since. If the House changes it, it goes back to the Senate before reaching the President.
Latest action: — Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 327.