S 318 ยท ANCHOR Act
Held at the desk.
- Introduced
- Jan 29, 2025
- Latest action
- Oct 10, 2025
- Sponsor
- Sen. Alex Padilla [D-CA]
- Policy area
- Science, Technology, Communications
- Cosponsors
- 1
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 ownership of ARF vessels and their typical research functions; the costs necessary to meet these needs; and the time required to implement necessary upgrades. The plan must also include (1) 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; and (2) a proposal regarding the adoption of common solutions or consortial licensing agreements, or the centralization of cybersecurity, telecommunications, or data management at a single facility. Among other factors specified in the bill, the NSF must consider the network capabilities necessary to meet mission needs (e.g., to upload data to 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 one year of the bill's enactment.
Recent actions
- Oct 10, 2025 Held at the desk.
- Oct 10, 2025 Received in the House.
- Oct 8, 2025 Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- Oct 8, 2025 Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7007-7009; text: CR S7008-7009)
- Oct 8, 2025 Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- Sep 29, 2025 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 169.
- Sep 29, 2025 Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 119-64.
- Sep 29, 2025 Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 119-64.
Votes
No recorded votes are available for this bill.