08/23/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/23/2024 16:55
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Commerce Committee Ranking Member, issued the following statements after National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced that they would pause burdensome permitting restrictions on commercial submarine cables in national marine sanctuaries, a change Senators Blackburn and Cruz urged them to make in a letter sent earlier this year.
"Undersea cables are vital components of our telecommunications and data infrastructure," said Senator Blackburn. "NOAA's decision to pause its efforts to make it more difficult to operate and maintain these important undersea cables is a major victory in the fight to encourage technological innovation and prioritize American interests."
"Impeding the laying, maintaining, and repairing of undersea cables undermines both the commercial and national security operations relying on this critical communications infrastructure," said Senator Cruz. "I am glad that NOAA now recognizes that America's undersea cable network does not harm national marine sanctuaries, and redundant environmental regulations are unnecessary for protecting marine ecosystems. I am proud to have joined Senator Blackburn in this effort to prioritize American interests and technological innovation."
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