ANCHOR Act

Summary

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. 

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Timeline

1. 12 February 2025

   Introduced

   Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 12 February 2025

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 12 February 2025

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

4. 29 April 2025

   Reported

   Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.

   Source: Committee

5. 29 April 2025

   Committee

   Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

   Source: Committee

6. 19 May 2025

   Floor

   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.

   Source: Floor

7. 19 May 2025

   Floor

   DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1223.

   Source: Floor

8. 19 May 2025

   Floor

   Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2113-2115)

   Source: Floor

9. 19 May 2025

   Floor

   Mr. Fong moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

   Source: Floor

10. 20 May 2025

    Passed

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

    Source: Floor

11. 20 May 2025

    Vote

    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)

    Source: Floor

12. 20 May 2025

    Vote

    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)

    Source: Floor

13. 20 May 2025

    Floor

    Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2168)

    Source: Floor

14. 21 May 2025

    Introduced

    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

    Source: IntroReferral

Votes

Versions

No version snapshots stored. Document URLs remain at the source.

Documents

4 official files

• Referred in Senate

  Referred in Senate · EN · 21 May 2025

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Engrossed in House

  Engrossed in House · EN · 19 May 2025

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in House

  Introduced in House · EN · 12 February 2025

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 12 February 2025

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Vince Fong · R · Sponsor
• Haley Stevens · D · Sponsor
• Jay Obernolte · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large] · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. Riley, Josh [D-NY-19] · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. Begich, Nicholas J. [R-AK-At Large] · R · Cosponsor
• · sscm00 · Standing
• · hssy00 · Standing

Related records

No cross-record relationships stored yet.