ANCHOR Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 1223
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Science, Technology, Communications
- Status
- Passed House
- Latest Action
- 2025-05-21: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-10T16:53:25Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The ANCHOR Act aims to strengthen the cybersecurity and telecommunications infrastructure of the U.S. Academic Research Fleet, which consists of research vessels operated by universities and labs for oceanographic studies. By requiring a detailed plan, the legislation seeks to ensure these vessels can support modern scientific missions, data management, crew well-being, and secure operations at sea.
Key Provisions
- Development of a Plan: Within 18 months of enactment, the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF), in consultation with other federal agencies and non-federal vessel owners/operators, must submit a comprehensive plan to specified congressional committees (Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation; House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology).
- Plan Elements:
- Assessment of telecommunications and networking needs based on each vessel's scientific missions.
- Assessment of cybersecurity needs, guided by standards from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), tailored to vessel operations and research activities.
- Cost estimates for upgrades, including equipment (e.g., satellite communications, software, computing infrastructure), personnel (e.g., training, support), and impacts on vessel charter rates.
- Timeline for implementation under different funding levels.
- Opportunities for shared solutions, like group licensing or centralized management of cybersecurity/data.
- A funding strategy involving NSF, Office of Naval Research (ONR), non-federal owners, fleet users, or combinations thereof.
- Considerations for the Plan:
- Network requirements for vessel functions (e.g., operations, crew health via telemedicine, real-time data streaming, remote expert support for maintenance/research, educational outreach to K-12 students).
- Cybersecurity aspects, including recommendations from a 2021 JASON report on NSF facilities, alignment with international security standards (e.g., encryption, incident response), access to training, and handling of sensitive information.
- Implementation and Reporting:
- NSF, in coordination with ONR and others, may fund and support upgrades aligned with the plan.
- Within two years of the plan's submission, NSF must report progress to the same congressional committees.
- Definitions:
- "Director" refers to the NSF Director.
- "Oceanographic research vessel" is defined under U.S. maritime law (46 U.S.C. § 2101) as a vessel used for scientific ocean research.
- "U.S. Academic Research Fleet" includes U.S.-flagged vessels operated by research universities/labs, designated and active in the University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This act introduces new requirements by mandating the creation and submission of a specific improvement plan for the Academic Research Fleet's cyberinfrastructure— an area not previously addressed in dedicated legislation. It builds on existing federal guidance from CISA and NIST but does not amend prior laws directly; instead, it adds oversight and potential funding mechanisms through NSF and ONR, potentially integrating with broader NSF facility cybersecurity efforts.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: NSF and ONR will face new planning and reporting duties, with possible increased budgets for upgrades and training. This could enhance federal support for oceanographic research, aligning with national priorities in science and security.
- On Citizens and Research Community: Improves vessel capabilities for safer, more efficient research, benefiting scientists, crew (e.g., better telemedicine and connectivity), and the public through advanced ocean data for climate, environment, and education. K-12 students may gain from enhanced remote learning opportunities.
- On International Relations: By aligning with global cybersecurity standards, it could facilitate international collaborations on ocean research while protecting U.S. research assets from foreign threats, indirectly supporting U.S. maritime and scientific leadership.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Agencies: National Science Foundation (lead role in planning/reporting), Office of Naval Research (coordination/funding), CISA, and NIST (providing guidance).
- Academic and Research Institutions: Universities and laboratories owning/operating fleet vessels, including members of the University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System.
- Fleet Users: Researchers, scientists, and support personnel relying on these vessels for missions.
- Congressional Committees: Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation; House Science, Space, and Technology (oversight and review).
- Broader Community: Non-federal funders, vessel charterers (affected by potential rate changes), and K-12 educators/students benefiting from outreach.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Establishes enforceable timelines and consultations, potentially setting precedents for federal mandates on academic research infrastructure. It emphasizes compliance with existing cybersecurity frameworks without creating new regulatory burdens, but funding plans could involve inter-agency coordination under federal grant laws.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's powers to promote science and commerce (Article I, Section 8), supporting public welfare through research without infringing on private operations (as it includes non-federal stakeholders voluntarily).
- Political: Highlights bipartisan interest in bolstering U.S. scientific competitiveness and national security amid rising cyber threats to critical infrastructure. Budgetary implications may spark debates on federal spending priorities for niche research assets, though the act's focus on planning avoids immediate fiscal commitments.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (5)
Rep. Stevens, Haley M. [D-MI-11], Rep. Obernolte, Jay [R-CA-23], Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large], Rep. Riley, Josh [D-NY-19], Rep. Begich, Nicholas J. [R-AK-At Large]
Recent Actions
- 2025-05-21: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- 2025-05-20: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- 2025-05-20: 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) (Roll call 136)
- 2025-05-20: 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) (Roll call 136)
- 2025-05-20: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2168)
- 2025-05-19: 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.
- 2025-05-19: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1223.
- 2025-05-19: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2113-2115)
- 2025-05-19: Mr. Fong moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
- 2025-04-29: Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
- 2025-04-29: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- 2025-02-12: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
- 2025-02-12: Introduced in House
- 2025-02-12: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Accelerating Networking, Cyberinfrastructure, and Hardware for Oceanic Research Act — issued 2025-05-19 — PDF (10 pages)
- Accelerating Networking, Cyberinfrastructure, and Hardware for Oceanic Research Act — issued 2025-02-12 — PDF (8 pages)
- Accelerating Networking, Cyberinfrastructure, and Hardware for Oceanic Research Act — issued 2025-05-21 — PDF (8 pages)