A Republican bill with 3 Democratic cosponsors · See all 5 cosponsors
Last activity — Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
In the other chamber's committee
Passed one chamber and has been handed to a committee in the other.
The committee decides whether it goes any further, and most bills that reach a committee never leave it. A committee that simply does nothing kills a bill without anyone ever voting against it, so no news from here is usually the news.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- Passed House 412–11
- In Senate committee
What this bill would do
The ANCHOR Act requires the Director of the National Science Foundation to develop a plan to improve the cybersecurity and telecommunications of the U.S. Academic Research Fleet. This plan must include assessments of networking needs, cybersecurity requirements, and the costs associated with equipment and personnel. The Director is tasked with evaluating how these upgrades impact daily charter rates and the time required for implementation. Additionally, the plan should explore ways to centralize data management or use common solutions across the fleet. Finally, the Act outlines a process for supporting upgrades and requires a progress report two years after the initial plan is submitted.
Yes· 3 of 9
- Scored +6
Does this better protect the country from computer attacks?
The act requires a plan to improve the cybersecurity of the U.S. Academic Research Fleet.
- Scored +5
Does this put more money into scientific research?
The act facilitates upgrades to cyberinfrastructure specifically to support the scientific mission of research vessels.
- Scored +5
Does this get reliable internet to more people?
The act aims to improve telecommunications and networking capabilities for the research fleet.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
What Congress actually voted on
One recorded vote has been taken on this bill.
- The House: a fast-track vote, needing two-thirds to pass The House sets aside its normal procedure to move quickly: no amendments, little debate, and a two-thirds bar instead of a simple majority. It is used for measures expected to be uncontroversial, so a bill that fails here failed despite broad expectations that it would not. Passed 412 yes · 11 no
05/20/2025 · Roll call 136 · recorded as “On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass”
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Improved Health and Well-being: The plan considers network capabilities to provide personnel with access to telemedicine, which includes mental health care, counseling, and other remote individual care services (Section 2(c)(1)(B)).
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Educational Opportunities: Increased network capabilities could allow for video communications to provide educational services for K-12 students, including remote classroom teaching (Section 2(c)(1)(G)).
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Enhanced Scientific Research: The act looks at improving connectivity for uploading scientific data, conducting real-time streaming for observers, and enabling remote subject matter experts to conduct surveys and seafloor mapping (Section 2(c)(1)(C)-(E)).
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Operational Efficiency: The plan considers using technology to allow manufacturers and vendors to perform maintenance and repairs via remote experts, which could help when expertise is limited on a vessel (Section 2(c)(1)(F)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Increased Research Costs: The plan requires an assessment of how upgrades might impact daily charter rates, which could lead to higher costs for using these vessels (Section 2(b)(3)(C)).
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Additional Financial Burdens: The assessment must account for costs exceeding current expenditures, including new equipment like satellite communications and high-performance computing, as well as increased personnel costs for training and support (Section 2(b)(3)(A)-(B)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Education And Technology
- Does this get reliable internet to more people? — The act aims to improve telecommunications and networking capabilities for the research fleet. Does this put more money into scientific research? — The act facilitates upgrades to cyberinfrastructure specifically to support the scientific mission of research vessels. Does this give people more control over their personal data? — The act focuses on cybersecurity requirements and aligning with international information security standards.
- Healthcare
- Does this make mental health care easier to get? — The act specifically considers network capabilities to enable telemedicine for mental health care. Does this make health care easier to get in general? — Improved connectivity supports remote individual care and telemedicine services for personnel.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would students be better off under this? — The act facilitates improved educational outreach through remote classroom capabilities. Would children be better off under this? — The act supports enhanced educational outreach for K-12 students via remote classroom teaching.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this better protect the country from computer attacks? — The act requires a plan to improve the cybersecurity of the U.S. Academic Research Fleet.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — Enhancing data transfer and remote observation capabilities can improve oceanographic research and environmental monitoring.
- 5/21/2025
- Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- 5/20/2025
- Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- 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)
- 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)
- Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2168)
- 5/19/2025
- 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.
- DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1223.
- Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2113-2115)
- Mr. Fong moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
- 5/5/2025
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 4/29/2025
- Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
- 2/24/2025
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 2/12/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
Nicholas BegichRepublican · Alaska
Sarah McBrideDemocrat · Delaware
Jay ObernolteRepublican · California
Josh RileyDemocrat · New York
Haley StevensDemocrat · Michigan