Senate bill targets foreign threats to undersea internet cables
Placed on the calendarS. 3249Latest action
Sponsor: Jeanne Shaheen · Senator · NH
AIDecoded by AI · checked against the recordRead the official text
Official title: Strategic Subsea Cables Act of 2026
119th Congress
Topics: Security & foreign affairs
Introduced:
Read the official bill on Congress.govIn plain words
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S 3249 creates an interagency committee and sanctions authority to protect undersea fiber-optic cables from foreign sabotage.
60-second read · 4 questions answered below
What does this do?
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.
Who does it affect?
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.
Why does it matter?
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.
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Where does it stand?
- IntroducedNov 20, 2025
- Senate committee
- Senate voteYou are here · Feb 10, 2026
- House
- The president's desk
Right now: it was placed on the , 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.