U.S. Congress legislation · 119th Congress
SB5617: Combating Critical Infrastructure Vandalism Act of 2026
Status: In committee, September 30, 2026
A bill to amend section 1362 of title 18, United States Code, to address vandalism of copper, fiber, and coaxial cables used to provide telecommunications and information services.
What the bill says
To amend section 1362 of title 18, United States Code, to address vandalism of copper, fiber, and coaxial cables used to provide telecommunications and information services.
From the introduced text, September 30, 2026:
A BILL To amend section 1362 of title 18, United States Code, to address vandalism of copper, fiber, and coaxial cables used to provide telecommunications and information services. SECTION 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Combating Critical Infrastructure Vandalism Act of 2026 . SECTION 2. Communication lines, stations, or systems Section 1362 of title 18, United States Code, is amended-- (1) by striking Whoever willfully or maliciously injures or destroys and inserting the following: (a) In general It shall be unlawful to-- (1) willfully or maliciously injure or destroy ; (2) in subsection (a), as so designated-- (A) in paragraph (1)-- (i) by striking interferes and inserting interfere ; (ii) by striking obstructs, hinders, or delays and inserting obstruct, hinder, or delay ; (iii) by striking attempts or conspires and inserting attempt or conspire ; and (iv) by striking , shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both. and inserting the or (2) willfully or maliciously injure, destroy, or steal, or attempt or conspire to injure, destroy, or steal, any copper, fiber, or coaxial cable used to provide telecommunications services (as defined in section 3 of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 153 )) or information services (as defined in that section) that is used in or …
Sponsors
- Schmitt, Eric (R) · primary sponsor
- Padilla, Alex (D, SD-CA)
Latest actions
- : Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- : Introduced in Senate
Subjects: Crime and Law Enforcement
Common questions
- What is SB5617?
- SB5617 is a bill in Congress (119th Congress): Combating Critical Infrastructure Vandalism Act of 2026.
- What does SB5617 do?
- In its own words: To amend section 1362 of title 18, United States Code, to address vandalism of copper, fiber, and coaxial cables used to provide telecommunications and information services.
- What is the status of SB5617?
- In committee as of September 30, 2026. Latest action: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (September 30, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB5617?
- Schmitt, Eric (R), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for SB5617?
- On the Congress website: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/5617
Source: official Congress record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.