Congress·Passed House·H.R. 1223

ANCHOR Act

Research Ships: Plan to Upgrade Cybersecurity and Internet Connections

May 21, 2025·View on Congress.gov·Read full text

StalledNext up: The SenateNo action in 14 months

The ANCHOR Act passed the House in May 2025 and is now waiting for action in the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. The bill is stalled because no progress has been made for 13 months. It is unlikely to move forward because the Senate often does not schedule bills that have already passed the House.

Legislative Progress

✓ House

Senate

No action since May 2025

President

Law

Key Points

Congress directs the National Science Foundation to write a plan, within 18 months, to improve cybersecurity and telecom on U.S. university-run ocean research ships.
The plan must spell out what each ship needs for safer operations and research, like stronger onboard networks and secure systems for sending data back to shore.
It also must estimate costs (equipment, software, staff training/support) and how upgrades could change what it costs to charter a ship for a research trip.
The plan should look for shared, cheaper solutions across the fleet, like common tools, group buying, or centralizing some security and data services.
After the plan is delivered, the agency may help fund upgrades, and it must report back to Congress within two years on progress.

CybersecurityTelecommunicationsTechnology

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.

Milestones

4 milestones13 actions

May 21, 2025Senate

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

Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.

May 20, 2025House

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

May 20, 2025House

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)

The House fast-tracked this bill — limited debate, no amendments allowed, but needs two-thirds support to pass.

May 20, 2025

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)

The House fast-tracked this bill — limited debate, no amendments allowed, but needs two-thirds support to pass.

May 20, 2025House

Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2168)