S 318 Passed in Senate – ANCHOR Act

On Wednesday, the Senate passed by unanimous consent S 318, the Accelerating Networking, Cyberinfrastructure, and Hardware for Oceanic Research (ANCHOR) Act. The bill would require the National Science Foundation (NSF) to submit a plan to improve the cybersecurity and telecommunications of the Academic Research Fleet. No new funding is authorized by the legislation.

 

The bill is very similar to HR 1223 that was passed in the House on  May 20^th, 2025. Most of the differences between the two bills are editorial in nature. There are some significant differences, however:

Subparagraph 2(c)(1)(G) which would have required supporting cybersecurity for video services to K-12 students is not in S 318,

Subsection (d) which specifically authorized NSF to implement the plan required in the bill and to prepare a report to Congress on the implementation of the plan is not included in S 318, and

S 318 adds a requirement to the definition of the term ‘U.S. Academic Research Fleet’ that requires that the covered vessels be funded by the NSF.

Interestingly, the Senate did not take up HR 1223 and amend it with the Senate language from S 318. So technically, this bill goes to the House for separate consideration from the already passed HR 1223. The House (when it finally comes back into session) will have the option of accepting the Senate version, as is, or amending it by substituting the Senate language. It will all depend on how enamored House Space, Science, and Technology Committee is with their language and prerogatives.