ANCHOR Act

Bill: 119-hr-1223
Sponsor: Rep. Fong, Vince [R-CA-20]
Introduced: 2025-02-12 in the House
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovations
Computer security and identity theft
Computers and information technology
National Science Foundation
Research and development

Summary:
action_date: 2025-02-12
text: 

Accelerating Networking, Cyberinfrastructure, and Hardware for Oceanic Research Act or the ANCHOR Act 

This bill requires the National Science Foundation (NSF) to develop a plan to improve the cybersecurity and telecommunications capabilities of the U.S. Academic Research Fleet (ARF).

ARF is comprised of U.S.-flagged vessels that provide at-sea laboratories where oceanographic scientists, educators, and students research and learn about marine science. 

The bill requires the plan to include assessments of

telecommunications and networking needs of ARF, consistent with typical scientific missions;

cybersecurity needs appropriate for the operation of ARF vessels and their specific research functions;

the costs necessary to meet these needs;

the time required to implement necessary upgrades; and

opportunities for the adoption of common solutions or consortial licensing agreements, or for the centralization of cybersecurity, telecommunications, or data management at a single facility. 

The plan must also include a spending plan for the NSF, the Office of Naval Research, nonfederal owners of ARF vessels, and users of the vessels to cover identified costs. 

Among other factors specified in the bill, the NSF must consider, as appropriate, the network capabilities necessary to meet mission needs (e.g., to upload data to cloud-based or shoreside servers), international standards and guidance for information security, and requirements for controlled unclassified or classified information. 

The plan must be provided to Congress within 18 months of the bill's enactment, and the NSF must later report to Congress on the plan's implementation. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2025-05-21
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2025-05-20
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2025-05-20
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 412 - 11 (Roll no. 136). (text: 5/19/2025 CR H2113-2114)
action_date: 2025-05-20
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 412 - 11 (Roll no. 136). (text: 5/19/2025 CR H2113-2114)
action_date: 2025-05-20
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2168)
action_date: 2025-05-19
text: At the conclusion of debate, the chair put the question on the motion to suspend the rules. Mr. Babin objected to the vote on the grounds that a quorum was not present. Further proceedings on the motion were postponed. The point of no quorum was considered as withdrawn.
action_date: 2025-05-19
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1223.
action_date: 2025-05-19
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2113-2115)
action_date: 2025-05-19
text: Mr. Fong moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
action_date: 2025-04-29
text: Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2025-04-29
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
action_date: 2025-02-12
text: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
action_date: 2025-02-12
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2025-02-12
text: Introduced in House