Limits federal permits for undersea fiber optic cables in national marine sanctuaries

§1What it does

Why this matters: A plain-English description of the bill as it was voted on, written by us from the official summary and text.

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This bill would bar the Commerce Department from prohibiting, or requiring its own permits for, installing, keeping, operating, maintaining, repairing or recovering undersea fiber optic cables in a national marine sanctuary when a federal or state agency has already issued a license, lease or permit for that work.^2,3,4 It would also strike two of the existing restrictions on activities covered by special use permits in national marine sanctuaries.⁴ The version the House passed, a substitute from the Natural Resources Committee, keeps existing requirements for agencies to consult on federal actions involving these cables that are likely to harm sanctuary resources.^2,3,4

§2Status

§3How Congress voted

Why this matters: The official count.