John Curtis (R-UT)
Critical Undersea Infrastructure Resilience Initiative Act
A Republican bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See all 2 cosponsors
Last activity — Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 323.
Cleared committee, waiting for its first floor vote
A committee approved it and it is on the calendar of the chamber it started in.
This is further than most bills get, and still no promise of a vote: the calendar is a queue, and the majority leadership decides what is called. A bill can sit here until the Congress ends.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- On Calendar
What this bill would do
This bill establishes the Taiwan Critical Undersea Infrastructure Initiative to protect vital undersea cables and energy infrastructure near Taiwan. It focuses on countering "gray zone" tactics and sabotage, specifically from the People's Republic of China. The initiative includes developing advanced monitoring, rapid response protocols, and enhanced maritime awareness. Additionally, the bill authorizes sanctions against those responsible for damaging critical infrastructure. It also mandates the creation of a Cross-Strait Contingency Planning Group to prepare for potential crises.
Yes· 3 of 7
- Scored +7
Does this get reliable internet to more people?
The bill protects the physical infrastructure necessary to maintain internet connectivity for Taiwan.
- Scored +6
Does this strengthen ties with allied countries?
The bill fosters international cooperation and joint maritime patrols with regional allies to protect undersea assets.
- Scored +5
Does this better protect the country from computer attacks?
The bill enhances security through advanced monitoring and response protocols for critical undersea infrastructure.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Enhanced Infrastructure Protection: The bill establishes an initiative to deploy advanced monitoring systems capable of detecting disruptions or sabotage in real-time (Section 4(c)(1)).
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Improved Response to Disruptions: The initiative seeks to establish rapid response protocols for repairing damaged cables and helping Taiwan develop the capacity to minimize downtime (Section 4(c)(2)).
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Increased Maritime Security: The bill promotes enhanced maritime domain awareness and joint patrols to detect suspicious vessels near critical routes (Section 4(c)(3)).
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Strengthened Physical Infrastructure: The bill supports the "hardening" of cables through reinforcing, improving burial depths, and using more resilient materials (Section 4(c)(5)).
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Accountability for Sabotage: The President is directed to impose sanctions, including blocking property and revoking visas, on those responsible for damaging critical infrastructure (Section 6(a)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Sanctions and Financial Restrictions: The bill authorizes the blocking of property and prohibits transactions for any foreign person determined to be responsible for or complicit in damaging undersea cables (Section 6(a) and 6(c)(1)).
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Travel and Entry Restrictions: Individuals identified as being responsible for sabotage would be made inadmissible to the United States and lose existing visas (Section 6(a) and 6(c)(2)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this strengthen ties with allied countries? — The bill fosters international cooperation and joint maritime patrols with regional allies to protect undersea assets. Does this better protect the country from computer attacks? — The bill enhances security through advanced monitoring and response protocols for critical undersea infrastructure. Does this favour talking over confrontation abroad? — It utilizes diplomatic pressure and international forums to raise awareness of infrastructure threats. Does this make trade with other countries easier? — By protecting communication cables, the bill helps secure the economic stability essential for global trade.
- Education And Technology
- Does this get reliable internet to more people? — The bill protects the physical infrastructure necessary to maintain internet connectivity for Taiwan.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill mandates periodic reports to Congress regarding undersea infrastructure incidents and responses. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill expands the President's authority to impose sanctions on foreign persons for infrastructure sabotage.
- 5/14/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/10/2026
- Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Risch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. Without written report.
- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 323.
- 1/29/2026
- Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- 7/9/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
David McCormickRepublican · Pennsylvania
Jacky RosenDemocrat · Nevada