House passes Mast’s Undersea Cable Control Act

The U.S. House of Representatives on March 27 unanimously approved legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) that aims to protect American undersea cable capabilities from China.  

“Whether it’s TikTok or a spy balloon, the U.S. has been caught flat-footed in countering Chinese influence. We can’t let undersea cables become another example of that trend,” Rep. Mast said. “We cannot empower the same China that wants to topple America and put communism on top to control one of the most powerful communications tools on the planet. We must protect this infrastructure and technology that Americans rely on every day.”

Rep. Mast in February sponsored the Undersea Cable Control Act, H.R. 1189, with three original cosponsors, including U.S. Rep. Andy Kim (D-NJ), to require that the administration develop a strategy to limit foreign adversaries like China from accessing goods and technologies capable of supporting undersea cables and establishing agreements with allies and partners to do the same, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Mast’s office.

If enacted, H.R. 1189 would prevent China from acquiring American-made goods and technologies that are used in developing and supporting undersea cables by invoking the Export Control Reform Act’s section 1752, which restricts the export of items that could prove detrimental to the national security and the economy of the United States, the summary says.

The House-approved H.R. 1189 on Tuesday advanced to the U.S. Senate, which referred the measure to the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee for consideration.