Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
H.R. 8177, the Critical Undersea Infrastructure Resilience Initiative Act, establishes a government program to protect Taiwan's undersea cables and energy infrastructure from sabotage, particularly from China. The bill directs the Secretary of State to create the Taiwan Critical Undersea Infrastructure Resilience Initiative with $20 million in annual funding through 2032 to develop monitoring systems, rapid repair protocols, and enhanced maritime surveillance in response to documented incidents where suspected Chinese vessels damaged Taiwan's submarine cables. The legislation also authorizes the President to impose sanctions—including asset freezes, visa revocations, and legal penalties—against foreign individuals, vessels, and entities involved in sabotaging undersea infrastructure critical to Taiwan or U.S. allies, with exceptions for national security activities and presidential waivers subject to congressional notification. Additionally, the bill requires creation of a Cross-Strait Contingency Planning Group led by the National Security Council to conduct scenario-based planning for potential Taiwan-related crises and identify U.S. vulnerabilities, with classified annual reports to Congress through 2032. The legislation also mandates semiannual presidential reports to Congress on any interference or sabotage targeting undersea infrastructure near Taiwan.
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