S. 318 · Passed Senate · Science, Technology, Communications

ANCHOR Act

What it does

Requires the National Science Foundation to develop a plan to improve cybersecurity and telecommunications for the U.S. Academic Research Fleet.
Requires the plan to assess the fleet's networking and cybersecurity needs, the costs to meet them, and the time needed for upgrades.
Requires a spending plan covering NSF, the Office of Naval Research, nonfederal vessel owners, and vessel users.
Requires a proposal on common solutions, consortial licensing, or centralizing cybersecurity, telecommunications, or data management at a single facility.

Official 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…

Latest action

Oct 10, 2025: Held at the desk.

Committee: Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation