Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
The bill directs the Secretary of Commerce to produce, within one year of enactment, a report assessing the value, cost, and feasibility of a trans‑Atlantic submarine fiber optic cable linking the contiguous United States, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Ghana, and Nigeria to enhance U.S. national security. The unclassified report (with an optional classified annex) must evaluate digital and national security, existing USVI cable lifespans and readiness, engagement with trusted partners, economic opportunities, and the feasibility of a high‑security data center in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Priority: civilian economic development versus military/security focus
Narrow, low-cost national security study typically attracts bipartisan support; minimal controversy or fiscal burden.
The bill directs the Secretary of Commerce to produce, within one year of enactment, a report assessing the value, cost, and feasibility of a trans‑Atlantic submarine fiber optic cable linking the contiguous United States, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Ghana, and Nigeria to enhance U.S. national security.
The unclassified report (with an optional classified annex) must evaluate digital and national security, existing USVI cable lifespans and readiness, engagement with trusted partners, economic opportunities, and the feasibility of a high‑security data center in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The Secretary may not compel entities to provide data and must use definitions of “trusted” and “not trusted” consistent with the 2019 Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act.
Study-only bills with national security framing often advance; passage hinges on smooth committee consideration and low Senate friction.
How solid the drafting looks.
Priority: civilian economic development versus military/security focus
These are examples from the analysis, not a ranked list of the most-affected groups.
Priority: civilian economic development versus military/security focus
Generally supportive of assessing connectivity and economic opportunities for the U.S. Virgin Islands and African partners, but cautious about militarization, surveillance, and environmental or community harms.
Sees potential for public investment to support equitable development if paired with strong civil‑liberties and labor safeguards.
Views the bill as a reasonable, low‑cost step to gather facts before committing to construction.
Supports evaluating security and economic tradeoffs but wants clear cost estimates, timelines, and engagement with both private sector and international partners.
Likely supportive because it addresses national security and reduces reliance on untrusted foreign suppliers, while applauding attention to secure communications and U.S. influence in Africa.
Skeptical of potential federal spending or bureaucratic expansion beyond the report stage.
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Still ahead
Still ahead
Still ahead
Study-only bills with national security framing often advance; passage hinges on smooth committee consideration and low Senate friction.
The bill has not accumulated any surfaced votes yet.
Priority: civilian economic development versus military/security focus
Study-only bills with national security framing often advance; passage hinges on smooth committee consideration and low Senate friction.
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