Combating Critical Infrastructure Vandalism Act of 2026

Eric Schmitt

Republican · MO · Senator

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

• Alex Padilla (D-CA)Original· 2026-09-30

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

2026-09-30

Source: Congress.gov

Plain-English summary pending. Introduced on 2026-09-30. Check back soon — summaries are generated as bills progress through Congress.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 5617 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 5617 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. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 30, 2026 Mr. Schmitt (for himself and Mr. Padilla) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary _______________________________________________________________________ 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. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Combating Critical Infrastructure Vandalism Act of 2026''. SEC. 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 following: ``; 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 affects interstate or foreign commerce, whether constructed or in the process of construction.''; and (B) in paragraph (2), as so designated, by striking ``In the case of any works'' and inserting the following: ``(b) Limitations.-- ``(1) Certain lawful concerted activities.--In the case of any works''; (3) in subsection (b), as so designated, by adding at the end the following: ``(2) Customer premises equipment.-- ``(A) In general.--Subsection (a)(2) shall not apply to customer premises equipment. ``(B) Customer premises equipment defined.--In this section, the term `customer premises equipment' means equipment physically located on a customer's property that is owned, rented, or leased by the customer.''; and (4) by adding at the end the following: ``(c) Penalty.--Any person in violation of subsection (a) shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both.''. <all>

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