[Pages H2847-H2848]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





        ASSESSMENT OF TRANS-ATLANTIC SUBMARINE FIBER OPTIC CABLE

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1737) 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.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1737

       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.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.


                             General Leave

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which in which to revise and extend 
their remarks and include extraneous material in the Record on the 
bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of H.R. 1737. I am advocating for 
this particular bill. The bill would direct the Secretary of Commerce 
to submit a report on the value, cost, and feasibility of developing a 
transatlantic submarine cable connecting the United States, the U.S. 
Virgin Islands, Ghana, and Nigeria.
  Submarine cables are critical components of communications 
infrastructure, carrying data traffic across oceans. There are more 
than 600 active and planned submarine cable systems that keep the world 
connected, but there is no cable connecting the United States to the 
continent of Africa.
  Mr. Speaker, a transatlantic submarine cable could provide national 
security benefits to the United States, given Africa's strategic 
importance, and it is an important issue to study, in my opinion.
  I thank Delegate Plaskett and Representative Fulcher for their 
leadership on this particular bill, and I urge my colleagues to join me 
in voting in favor of H.R. 1737.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1430

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1737, a bill requiring 
the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, or 
NTIA, to assess the value, cost, and feasibility of a transatlantic 
submarine fiber optic cable connecting the United States, the U.S. 
Virgin Islands, Ghana, and Nigeria, and to submit a report to Congress 
with its findings.
  The bill also directs NTIA to report to Congress on the current state 
of telecommunications connecting the U.S. Virgin Islands and the United 
States, including an assessment of the lifespan and security of 
telecommunications infrastructure linking the two.
  This legislation will provide Congress with vital information on the 
strength and resiliency of communications infrastructure in the U.S. 
Virgin Islands. It will also help us determine whether American 
interests can be served by connecting the U.S. and the African 
Continent with undersea cable infrastructure by way of the U.S. Virgin 
Islands.
  This bill is an important step to enhance American communications 
security and competitiveness around the world.
  In recent years, Mr. Speaker, the United States and many allies have 
recognized the threat posed by untrusted Chinese telecommunications 
equipment to our national security. Thanks to the work of the Energy 
and Commerce Committee and Congress, we have taken steps to remove 
suspect equipment and software from American communications networks to 
protect against sabotage and undue influence by our adversaries.
  Much of this work has been done on a bipartisan basis. One noteworthy 
example is the legislation Congress passed to force the divestment of 
TikTok from ownership by companies controlled by the Chinese Communist 
Party, which passed overwhelmingly with hundreds of Democratic and 
Republican votes.
  That is why I was frustrated to learn last week that President Trump 
again unlawfully granted TikTok an extension, allowing China to 
infiltrate American networks for another 90 days. President Trump's 
disregard for the law is well known at this point, but I was more 
disappointed that none of my Republican colleagues had the courage to 
call on the President to enforce the law.
  Trump's stall tactics are allowing China to continue to collect 
massive amounts of information on Americans. There are American 
companies that want to buy TikTok. It is long past time for Trump to 
get this done.
  There is also still work to be done because network security does not 
end at the water's edge. For decades, China and other adversaries have 
spent considerable time and money to deploy suspect telecommunications 
equipment and infrastructure across the African Continent. The 
assessment required in this bill is an important step to understand the 
cost of securing the connection between the United States and our 
African allies and how best to ensure a critical global communications 
channel is protected from the prying eyes of our adversaries.

[[Page H2848]]

  I thank Delegate Stacey Plaskett of the U.S. Virgin Islands for her 
leadership on this bill, and I thank Representative Fulcher, as well, 
for this effort.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to 
support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to refrain from 
engaging in personalities toward the President.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the 
gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Ms. Plaskett).
  Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Pallone, this body, 
and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for recognizing the 
national security interest of this legislation, H.R. 1737, 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 this transatlantic submarine fiber 
optic cable that has been discussed.
  Today, hundreds of undersea fiber optic cables connect North America 
to Europe, South America, and Asia, but not a single cable directly 
links North America to the African Continent. This represents both a 
strategic vulnerability and a missed economic opportunity.
  The diaspora link act represents an opportunity to establish a high-
speed, secure telecommunications data connection to Africa from 
American soil to facilitate deepened economic connections and aid 
American regional security assistance. This link will allow America to 
establish a direct digital presence on the African Continent, both to 
capitalize on emerging economic opportunities and to protect our Nation 
against cyber and military threats.
  The study will examine Lagos, Nigeria, and Accra, Ghana, as potential 
African landing points. Both cities serve as established 
telecommunications hubs with existing undersea cable infrastructure 
linking West Africa to Europe and South America. The presence of 
American embassies in both locations offers critical security benefits 
for cable operations.
  Our adversarial nations are rapidly expanding their influence across 
the African Continent, and a direct American telecommunications link to 
the continent is a strategic necessity.
  China has systematically expanded its telecommunications and military 
presence across Africa. The Chinese multinational Huawei has 
constructed roughly 70 percent of Africa's information 
technology infrastructure. China is pursuing the same strategy in the 
Caribbean, where at least 10 nations have signed Belt and Road 
agreements that open their nations to Chinese investment and influence.

  China's expansion into Africa and the Caribbean makes establishing 
our own direct telecommunications link to these regions a strategic 
necessity.
  Russia, as well, has destabilized Africa through disinformation 
campaigns and mercenary operations, positioning itself as an 
alternative to Western partnerships while fueling antidemocratic 
sentiment. This strategy has made Africa a flash point in the global 
strategic competition between Russia and the West. Moscow's support for 
authoritarian governments includes backing multiple coups in Nigeria, 
Mali, Sudan, Guinea, and Burkina Faso that directly threaten democratic 
progress.
  Our adversaries are systematically exploiting Africa's vast mineral 
wealth while we lack direct access. Russia and China are extracting 
critical resources across the continent: uranium from Niger, the 
world's seventh largest producer; gold and lithium from Mali's 
extensive deposits; cobalt from the Democratic Republic of the Congo; 
and bauxite and phosphate from Burkina Faso. These materials are 
essential to technology as well as defense industries. We cannot afford 
to remain on the sidelines.
  Additionally, there are many African countries that want to engage 
with us, that want to do business with us. Burkina Faso and Angola have 
reached out to our country to engage more, and this is an additional 
way for us to do that.
  Additionally, let's look at the populations. Africa has almost a 
billion individuals under the age of 30. The United States has only 100 
million. The entire European Union has 140 million. These young people 
represent a growing economic as well as potential allyship for the 
United States, and we all know that social media and internet commerce 
is the mechanism by which we are able to engage them.
  An undersea cable linking the American East Coast to Africa via the 
United States Virgin Islands would create both a critical national 
security asset and a digital commerce expressway to strengthen 
America's global political, economic, and military positions. Such 
undersea cable development would leverage the Virgin Islands' already 
existing telecommunications infrastructure, which already connects the 
territory to South America and the mainland in the United States and 
facilitates additional regional links.
  The diaspora link act enables the United States to counter Chinese 
influence and global telecommunications while leveraging our existing 
strategic assets. The U.S. Virgin Islands not only hosts established 
cable infrastructure but maintains a National Guard installation on St. 
Croix with an adjacent military support airport, assets that could 
directly support and secure these telecommunications operations.
  The Virgin Islands, the most southern point of the United States, 
sits at the crossroads of centuries-old transit routes, and we now have 
a chance to transform this strategic location into a cornerstone of 
American telecommunications infrastructure.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the Energy and Commerce Committee for its 
unanimous support of this legislation through regular order. This bill 
passed the House in the 118th Congress with bipartisan support and 
identical text.
  I thank my colleague, Congressman Fulcher, for his continued 
partnership to advance America's telecommunications as well as military 
and national security.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this critical measure. 
Congress must protect American security interests in the Caribbean and 
strengthen our partnership across the Atlantic with our African 
partners.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, obviously, from what you are hearing from the 
gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Ms. Plaskett), this is an 
important bill in terms of not only the Virgin Islands but 
strengthening our links, communications, and economy with Africa, as 
well.
  For all those reasons, I urge that we support the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I commend the gentlewoman from the Virgin 
Islands (Ms. Plaskett) for offering this very important bill, and I 
encourage a ``yes'' vote on this particular bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 1737.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________