ANCHOR Act
Introduced Jan 29, 2025 by Sen. Alex Padilla
The Senate passed it. The House has to pass it before it can reach the President.
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;
Read the full summary on Congress.govSummary by the Congressional Research Service.
No recorded roll-call vote on this bill — it may have passed by voice vote or unanimous consent, which don't record individual votes.
- Oct 10, 2025Held at the desk.
- Oct 10, 2025Received in the House.
- Oct 8, 2025Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- Oct 8, 2025Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7007-7009; text: CR S7008-7009)
- Oct 8, 2025Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- Sep 29, 2025Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 169.
- Sep 29, 2025Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 119-64.
- May 21, 2025Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- Jan 29, 2025Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- Jan 29, 2025Introduced in Senate