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119-s-5617119th CongressWALLET

Combating Critical Infrastructure Vandalism Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Senator Schmitt, Eric [R-MO]

Introduced

Summary

Expands federal vandalism law to make willful damage to copper, fiber, and coaxial cables used for telecommunications and information services a federal offense. The bill would amend 18 U.S.C. § 1362 to cover cables that affect interstate or foreign commerce, including cables under construction, while carving out customer premises equipment and exempting certain lawful concerted activities.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Ban and penalties for cable vandalism

If enacted, this bill would make it a federal crime to willfully or maliciously injure, destroy, or steal copper, fiber, or coaxial cable used to provide telecommunications or information services that are used in or affect interstate or foreign commerce. The ban would cover cables already built and those under construction, and it would also cover attempts and conspiracies. The bill would exclude customer premises equipment that is on a customer's property and owned, rented, or leased by that customer. Certain lawful concerted activities would be exempt. A person convicted would face a fine under Title 18, up to 10 years in prison, or both.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Schmitt, Eric [R-MO]

MO • R

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 9/30/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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