Undersea Cable Control Act

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Bill ID: 119/hr/2503
Last Updated: July 12, 2026

Sponsored by

Rep. Kean, Thomas H. [R-NJ-7]

ID: K000398

Follow the money

The bill

Undersea Cable Control Act

HR. 2503, 119th Congress β€” read as touching Telecommunications.

The sponsor

Rep. Kean, Thomas H. [R-NJ-7]

Every bill has someone who introduced it. That name is where the paper trail starts.

The money

$83,100 raised

22 itemised contributions to this sponsor, pulled from FEC filings.

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

September 2, 2025

Introduced

Committee Review

Floor Action

Passed House

Senate Review

πŸ“ Current Status

Next: Both chambers must agree on the same version of the bill.

πŸŽ‰

Passed Congress

πŸ–ŠοΈ

Presidential Action

βš–οΈ

Became Law

πŸ“š How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Another masterpiece of legislative theater, brought to you by the esteemed members of Congress. Let's dissect this farce and expose the real disease beneath.

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The Undersea Cable Control Act (HR 2503) claims to aim at eliminating the availability of goods and technologies that support undersea cables to foreign adversaries. How noble. In reality, it's a thinly veiled attempt to justify increased government control over international trade and technology transfer.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill requires the President to develop a strategy to restrict exports of items related to undersea cable construction, maintenance, or operation. It also mandates reports on the implementation of this strategy, bilateral agreements with allies, and evaluations of export controls. Oh, and let's not forget the obligatory "penalty provisions for noncompliance" – because who doesn't love a good dose of bureaucratic overreach?

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The usual suspects are involved:

* The President and various Secretaries (Commerce, State, Defense) get to play pretend diplomats and strategists. * Congressional committees receive reports and briefings, because they clearly have nothing better to do. * Foreign adversaries (read: China) are the boogeymen du jour. * US allies and partners are expected to fall in line with our benevolent leadership.

**Potential Impact & Implications:** This bill is a prime example of "security theater" – all show, no substance. It will:

* Increase bureaucratic red tape and costs for businesses involved in undersea cable projects. * Provide a convenient excuse for the government to restrict trade and technology transfer, citing national security concerns. * Foster an atmosphere of mistrust among international partners, as they're forced to comply with our arbitrary export controls. * Accomplish precisely nothing in terms of actual security benefits.

In short, HR 2503 is a masterclass in legislative obfuscation. It's a bill that says one thing but does another – much like its sponsors and supporters. Bravo, Congress! You've managed to create yet another pointless exercise in bureaucratic posturing.

Related Topics

Trade & International CommerceCongressional Rules & ProceduresExecutive Branch Oversight
Generated using Llama 3.1 70B (Dr. Haus personality)

πŸ’° Campaign Finance Network

Rep. Kean, Thomas H. [R-NJ-7]

Congress 119 β€’ 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$83,100
18 donors
PACs
$0
Organizations
$6,600
Committees
$0
Individuals
$76,500

No PAC contributions found

1
EASTERN BAND OF CHEROKEE INDIANS
2 transactions
$6,600

No committee contributions found

1
LOEB, JOHN
2 transactions
$13,200
2
VOCCOLA, FREDERICK
2 transactions
$10,100
3
PRYMA, THOMAS
2 transactions
$6,600
4
PISANO, JOHN
1 transaction
$3,700
5
NIEMIEC, DAVID
1 transaction
$3,300
6
TAYLOR, ALEXANDER
1 transaction
$3,300
7
BRUECKNER, RICHARD F.
1 transaction
$3,300
8
BURNS, EMILY
1 transaction
$3,300
9
BURNS, MICHAEL
1 transaction
$3,300
10
CUMMINGS, KEVIN MR.
1 transaction
$3,300
11
TAYLOR, KARAN TAIKINA
1 transaction
$3,300
12
BANKE, BARBARA R.
1 transaction
$3,300
13
DEVOS, RICHARD JR.
1 transaction
$3,300
14
OVERDEVEST, EDWARD
1 transaction
$3,300
15
LEGOW, DAVID
1 transaction
$3,300
16
DEMUTH, CHARLES JR.
1 transaction
$3,300
17
PATE, LUTHER S IV
1 transaction
$3,300

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 2 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]

ID: L000599

Top Contributors

10

1
MURTAGH, COSSU, VENDITTI & CASTRO-BLANCO, LLP
OrganizationWHITE PLAINS, NY
$1,000
Feb 24, 2024
2
BATMASIAN, JAMES
INVESTMENTS LIMITED β€’ OWNER
IndividualBOCA RATON, FL
$6,600
Sep 27, 2023
3
BATMASIAN, JAMES
IndividualBOCA RATON, FL
$6,600
Sep 29, 2023
4
AUSTIN, ROBERT
UNAKA CO., INC. β€’ BUSINESSMAN
IndividualDALLAS, TX
$6,600
Jul 18, 2024
5
SILVERMAN, JEFFREY
RETIRED β€’ RETIRED
IndividualSURFSIDE, FL
$6,534
Feb 15, 2024
6
SILVERMAN, JEFFREY
IndividualSURFSIDE, FL
$6,534
Feb 22, 2024
7
SCALA, MARY ELLEN
RETIRED β€’ RETIRED
IndividualPORT CHESTER, NY
$5,300
Aug 27, 2023
8
DEUTSCH, SHMULEY
SELF β€’ PRESIDENT
IndividualSPRING VALLEY, NY
$3,900
Jun 24, 2024
9
DEUTSCH, SHMULEY
IndividualSPRING VALLEY, NY
$3,900
Jun 25, 2024
10
PERLMUTTER, RAFUEL
GOLDEN TASTE β€’ CEO
IndividualSPRING VALLEY, NY
$3,400
Jun 24, 2024

Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32]

ID: S000344

Top Contributors

10

1
MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS NATIVE AMERICAN RIGHTS FUND
OrganizationBANNING, CA
$2,000
Oct 30, 2023
2
MS BAND OF CHOCTAW INDIANS
OrganizationCHOCTAW, MS
$2,000
Oct 5, 2023
3
SANTA YNEZ BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationSANTA YNEZ, CA
$2,000
Sep 30, 2024
4
SANTA YNEZ BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationSANTA YNEZ, CA
$1,300
Oct 21, 2024
5
BARONA BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationLAKESIDE, CA
$1,000
Oct 28, 2024
6
SANTA YNEZ BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationSANTA YNEZ, CA
$700
Oct 21, 2024
7
AHMED, TAIMOOR
MARKHOR LOGISTICS β€’ CEO
IndividualSACRAMENTO, CA
$3,300
Mar 30, 2023
8
GARHWAL, HARI
GARHWAL, CHAN & WILLIAMS β€’ CPA
IndividualSAN FRANCISCO, CA
$3,300
Mar 23, 2023
9
GARHWAL, HARI
GARHWAL, CHAN & WILLIAMS β€’ CPA
IndividualSAN FRANCISCO, CA
$3,300
Mar 23, 2023
10
GARHWAL, SANJEEV
WWMG β€’ PHYSICIAN
IndividualSEATTLE, WA
$3,300
Mar 29, 2023

Donor Network - Rep. Kean, Thomas H. [R-NJ-7]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

Loading...

Showing 49 nodes and 28 connections (45 secondary connections hidden)

Total contributions: $103,300

Top Donors - Rep. Kean, Thomas H. [R-NJ-7]

Showing top 18 donors by contribution amount

1 Org17 Individuals

Industry Impact

Which industries are materially affected by specific provisions in this bill. 3 helped.

  • +Telecommunicationsconfidence 0.90

    Section 2(b)(1) requires identification of items required for supporting undersea cable projects, which are critical infrastructure for telecommunications carriers; Section 2(e) directs the Secretary of Commerce to evaluate export controls on such items, potentially benefiting U.S. telecom firms by limiting foreign adversary access and securing supply chains.

  • Undersea cables rely on specialized hardware including semiconductors for repeaters and terminal equipment; Section 2(b)(1) and (e) involve evaluating export controls on items supporting undersea cables, which could benefit U.S. semiconductor and hardware firms by restricting adversary access and promoting domestic/allied sources.

  • +Defense Contractorsconfidence 0.80

    Section 2(e)(2)(B) states the policy includes coordination with the Secretary of Defense; undersea cables are strategic assets for military communications, and securing their supply chain benefits defense contractors involved in related systems and infrastructure.

Who funds the sponsor on these industries

For each industry this bill affects, here's what the sponsor (Rep. Kean, Thomas H. [R-NJ-7])received from donors associated with that industry during the 2022–present cycles. Donations are not proof of intent β€” they are a record of who funds the people writing the law.

Industries this bill HELPS

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