Strategic Subsea Cables Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
In Committee
Summary
protect critical undersea infrastructure. This bill would strengthen U.S. efforts to secure subsea telecommunications and energy cables by boosting diplomacy, expanding State Department staffing, creating an interagency coordinating body, improving government‑private information sharing, and authorizing targeted sanctions for sabotage.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
More U.S. diplomacy for cables
If enacted, the Secretary of State would step up work with other countries to make it easier to install, monitor, maintain, and repair undersea cables. Within 180 days, the Secretary would increase bilateral and multilateral engagement and support efforts to develop a multinational cable repair fleet. Not later than one year, and then annually for five years, the Secretary would report on how U.S. engagement in groups like the International Cable Protection Committee could protect U.S. security and reduce foreign barriers.
Reports on sabotage and foreign activity
If enacted, the Director of National Intelligence would give Congress, within 180 days, an attribution assessment of listed sabotage incidents from January 2022 through January 2026, including any agency dissents. Also within 180 days and then annually for five years, the State Department would report (unclassified with a possible classified annex) on PRC and Russian subsea manufacturing, vessel behavior, capabilities, and any cooperation on surveillance or sabotage. These reports would include lists of suspicious vessels and yearly incident summaries.
Sanctions for sabotage actors
If enacted, the President would be authorized to use IEEPA to sanction foreign persons the President finds responsible for or assisting sabotage of critical undersea infrastructure. Sanctions could block property in the United States, bar transactions, and make covered foreign nationals inadmissible with immediate visa revocations. The President must give Congress a detailed justification within 15 days after imposing sanctions. The bill lists covered targets such as vessels, owners, insurers, logistics or flagging services, and senior leaders.
Who and what counts as critical
If enacted, the bill would define which undersea cables, pipelines, landing stations, and seabed equipment count as "critical undersea infrastructure." It would also define "non‑Federal entity" to include owners, operators, contractors, and others who build, maintain, or repair that infrastructure. The bill would define "sabotage" broadly to include actions or preparations intended to damage operations, data integrity, or effectiveness.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
NH • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY]
WY • R
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID]
ID • R
Sponsored 4/13/2026
Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
DE • D
Sponsored 5/12/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov