Sponsor
Nicholas A. Langworthy
Representative · R-NY
Representative · R-NY
The rule speeds House action and reduces permitting delays for undersea cable policy while preserving a single motion to recommit, but it does so by curtailing debate, procedural safeguards, and timely congressional review of national emergencies—trading faster outcomes for reduced oversight, transparency, and some environmental protections.
Utilities and undersea cable operators will face fewer permitting delays because the rule fast-tracks consideration of legislation that would limit new sanctuary permit requirements for existing undersea fiber-optic cable activities and speeds final House action on H.R.3617.
Members retain a single motion to recommit, preserving a narrow final opportunity for the minority to propose changes or delay passage.
Committee leaders get structured, guaranteed time (a set one-hour debate) to present and defend the bill, focusing floor discussion and informing Members' votes.
Shortened debate and waived points of order substantially reduce congressional scrutiny, amendment opportunities, and formal objections, limiting legislative oversight of substantive policy changes.
Exempting some cable activities from sanctuary authorization requirements could weaken environmental review and protections in national marine sanctuaries, raising local ecological risks.
Fast-tracking consideration with limited debate and deeming the committee substitute adopted reduces transparency and public notice, disadvantaging tribes, conservation groups, local authorities, and other stakeholders who rely on longer review to raise concerns.
Based on analysis of 6 sections of legislative text.
Expedites House consideration of two bills (one limiting sanctuary permits for undersea fiber cables already authorized, one amending DOE organization for critical energy resources) and suspends NEA countdowns for four emergencies Feb 10–Jul 31, 2026.
Sets the House rules for quick consideration of two separate bills: one that limits when national marine sanctuary permits can be required for undersea fiber‑optic cable work that already had Federal or State authorization, and another that changes Department of Energy organization rules related to critical energy resources. It also pauses certain statutory timing rules for congressional review of four presidential national emergency declarations for the period Feb 10–Jul 31, 2026. The resolution waives points of order, limits debate to one hour per bill (divided between committee leaders), deems committee substitute amendments as adopted, and preserves a single motion to recommit. The NEA-related provision temporarily suspends the counting of calendar days used for six‑month review and certain referral/reporting deadlines tied to four specific national emergency declarations.
Official title: Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2189) to modernize Federal firearms laws to account for advancements in technology and less-than-lethal weapons, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 261) to amend the National Marine Sanctuaries Act to prohibit requiring an authorization for the installation, continued presence, operation, maintenance, repair, or recovery of undersea fiber optic cables in a national marine sanctuary if such activities have previously been authorized by a Federal or State agency; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3617) to amend the Department of Energy Organization Act to secure the supply of critical energy resources, including critical minerals and other materials, and for other purposes; and for other purposes.
Introduced February 9, 2026 by Nicholas A. Langworthy · Last progress February 10, 2026