US Congress · 119th Congress (2025-2026)

HR 1737In Second Chamber

To direct the Secretary of Commerce to submit to Congress a report containing an assessment of the value, cost, and feasibility of a trans-Atlantic submarine fiber optic cable connecting the contiguous United States, the United States Virgin Islands, Ghana, and Nigeria.

Source of recordUS Congress · congress.govLast synced Sep 2, 2026

Chamber

House

Progress

Where this bill stands in the legislative process.

Introduced
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became Law

Overview

This bill directs the Secretary of Commerce to conduct a comprehensive assessment and submit a report to Congress regarding the value, cost, and feasibility of establishing a trans-Atlantic submarine fiber optic cable connecting the United States, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Ghana, and Nigeria. The report will examine potential national security, economic, and digital security benefits, as well as the readiness of infrastructure and the possibility of a data center in the U.S. Virgin Islands for specific national security communications.

Key provisions

The Secretary of Commerce must submit a report to Congress within one year.
The report will assess the value, cost, and feasibility of the cable.
The report must examine security implications and potential national security benefits.
The report will analyze the lifespan of existing cables and the security of current telecommunications.
The report will evaluate the readiness of infrastructure in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The report will consider potential engagement with trusted entities for deployment.
The report will assess the feasibility of establishing a data center in the U.S. Virgin Islands for specific U.S. military communications.
The report will cover the state of submarine fiber optic cables connected to U.S. infrastructure.

Who is affected

Department of Commerce
Congress
U.S. Virgin Islands

Bill text

Read the latest version inline or switch to a previous version.

Feb 27, 2025XMLView source

Text extraction is in progress. View the official source.

Legislative history

15 recorded actions · showing the most recent 12

Mar 4, 2025House

Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.

Mar 4, 2025House

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

Jun 12, 2025House

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 121.

Jun 12, 2025House

Reported by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 119-155.

Jun 12, 2025

Reported by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 119-155.

Jun 23, 2025House

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

Jun 23, 2025House

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2847)

Jun 23, 2025

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2847)

Jun 23, 2025House

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1737.

Jun 23, 2025House

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2847-2848)

Jun 23, 2025House

Mr. Bilirakis moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

Jun 24, 2025Senate

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Votes

Recorded roll calls and chamber actions on this bill.

Passage without roll call

The official record shows passage by unanimous consent or voice vote where no roll call was taken. No member-level tally is available for these steps, and the district map does not apply.

6/23/2025HouseVoice vote
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2847)
No roll-call vote on record for this action.
6/23/2025Voice vote
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2847)
No roll-call vote on record for this action.

Floor votes and chamber actions

Recorded roll calls list how each member voted. Unanimous consent or voice vote appears in the official action history without a roll call; no member-level tally is available for those steps.

Passage without roll call

Jun 23, 2025HouseVoice vote
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2847)
No roll-call vote on record for this action.
Jun 23, 2025Voice vote
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2847)
No roll-call vote on record for this action.

Geography

Recorded positions across the country.

No public positions recorded for this legislation.

Arguments

Reasons offered for and against this legislation.

Arguments in favor

No arguments in favor have been submitted.

Submit yours

Arguments opposed

No arguments opposed have been submitted.

Submit yours

To direct the Secretary of Commerce to submit to Congress a report containing an assessment of the value, cost, and feasibility of a trans-Atlantic submarine fiber optic cable connecting the contiguous United States, the United States Virgin Islands, Ghana, and Nigeria.

Progress

Overview

Key provisions

Who is affected

Bill text

Sponsors

Primary sponsor

Cosponsor

Legislative history

Votes

Passage without roll call

Floor votes and chamber actions

Passage without roll call

Geography

Arguments

Arguments in favor

Arguments opposed

Notable changes

Geography

Legislative history

Votes

Passage without roll call

Floor votes and chamber actions

Passage without roll call