Assessment of Trans-Atlantic Submarine Fiber Optic Cable

Floor Speech

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Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3385) to direct the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to submit to Congress a report containing an assessment of the value, cost, and feasibility of developing a trans-Atlantic submarine fiber optic cable connecting the contiguous United States, the United States Virgin Islands, Ghana, and Nigeria, and for other purposes, as amended.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 3385

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. ASSESSMENT OF TRANS-ATLANTIC SUBMARINE FIBER OPTIC CABLE.

(a) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the heads of other Federal departments and agencies as necessary, shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 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, to enhance the national security of the United States.

(b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall include an assessment of--

(1) the digital security, national security, and economic opportunities associated with a trans-Atlantic submarine fiber optic cable described in subsection (a);

(2) the lifespan of submarine fiber optic cables currently connecting the United States Virgin Islands to the contiguous United States;

(3) the current security of telecommunications between the contiguous United States and the United States Virgin Islands;

(4) the readiness of telecommunications infrastructure in the United States Virgin Islands to support a trans-Atlantic submarine fiber optic cable described in subsection (a);

(5) the potential for engagement with trusted entities in the deployment of a trans-Atlantic submarine fiber optic cable described in subsection (a), and the associated geopolitical and economic advantages;

(6) the potential connectivity opportunities to maximize investments in the United States economy through the use of a trans-Atlantic submarine fiber optic cable described in subsection (a);

(7) the value, cost, and feasibility of establishing a data center and high-security cloud services facility, with independent power generation, in the United States Virgin Islands for communications of the United States Africa Command, communications of the United States Special Operations Command, and national security communications;

(8) the state of submarine fiber optic cables connected to United States telecommunications infrastructure; and

(9) any other related matters the Secretary determines are appropriate.

(c) No Mandatory Data Collection.--The Secretary may not require any entity to provide data for purposes of preparing the report required by subsection (a).

(d) Form.--The report required by subsection (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form without any designation relating to dissemination control, but may include a classified annex.

(e) Definitions.--In this section:

(1) Not trusted.--The term ``not trusted'' means, with respect to an entity, that the entity is determined by the Secretary to pose an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States, or the security and safety of United States persons, based solely on one or more determination described under paragraphs (1) through (4) of section 2(c) of the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 (47 U.S.C. 1601(c)).

(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information.

(3) Trusted.--The term ``trusted'' means, with respect to an entity, that the Secretary has not determined that the entity is not trusted.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3385. This bill would direct the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to assess the value, cost, and feasibility of developing a trans- Atlantic submarine fiber optic cable connecting the United States, the Virgin Islands, Ghana, and Nigeria.

A trans-Atlantic submarine fiber optic cable could provide national security benefits to the United States, making this an important issue to study.

I thank the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands and the gentleman from Idaho's First District for leading on this important legislation. I also thank the ranking member of the full committee, the gentleman from New Jersey, for his willingness to work with Republicans on this legislation in a bipartisan way through regular order in the committee process.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3385, and I reserve the balance of my time.
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Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, again to highlight, H.R. 3385, as stated in the bill, the report shall include an assessment of the digital security, the national security, and the economic opportunities associated with a trans-Atlantic submarine fiber optic cable. This is again essential for our security.

Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 3385, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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