The bill
Undersea Cable Control Act
HR. 2503, 119th Congress β read as touching Telecommunications.
Sponsored by
Rep. Kean, Thomas H. [R-NJ-7]
ID: K000398
Follow the money
The bill
HR. 2503, 119th Congress β read as touching Telecommunications.
The sponsor
Every bill has someone who introduced it. That name is where the paper trail starts.
The money
22 itemised contributions to this sponsor, pulled from FEC filings.
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
π Current Status
Next: Both chambers must agree on the same version of the bill.
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!
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" β 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" β 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 β much like its sponsors and supporters. Bravo, Congress! You've managed to create yet another pointless exercise in bureaucratic posturing.
Rep. Kean, Thomas H. [R-NJ-7]
Congress 119 β’ 2024 Election Cycle
No PAC contributions found
No committee contributions found
This bill has 2 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.
ID: L000599
Top Contributors
10
ID: S000344
Top Contributors
10
Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.
Showing 49 nodes and 28 connections (45 secondary connections hidden)
Total contributions: $103,300
Showing top 18 donors by contribution amount
Which industries are materially affected by specific provisions in this bill. 3 helped.
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.
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.
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 2022βpresent cycles. Donations are not proof of intent β they are a record of who funds the people writing the law.
To terminate certain tariffs imposed pursuant to emergency authorities and require congressional approval for the imposition of similar tariffs, and for other purposes.
A resolution to constitute the majority party's membership on certain committees for the One Hundred Nineteenth Congress, or until their successors are chosen.
Promptly Ending Political Prosecutions and Executive Retaliation Act of 2025