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.

Review – Committee Hearings – Week of 5-18-25

With the House and Senate both in Washington, there is a moderately busy hearing schedule with continued focus on budget hearings. In the House we also have an oversight hearing for the TSA. In the Senate there will be hearings on counter UAS operations and a markup hearing. The House will be taking up one bill under suspension that is of interest here.

Budget Hearings

The following budget hearing of interest will be held this week:

Budget Hearings	House	Senate
EPA	Appropriations	Environment
DHS		Homeland
DOE		Appropriations

TSA Oversight

On Tuesday the Subcommittee on Homeland Security of the House Appropriations Committee will hold an oversight hearing on “Oversight Hearing – The Transportation Security Administration”.

cUAS

On Tuesday the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on “Defending Against Drones: Setting Safeguards for Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems Authorities”. 

Markup Hearing

On Wednesday the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee will hold a business meeting to consider nominations and eight bills. Of specific interest here will be:

S 318, the ANCHOR Act.

On the Floor

The House is scheduled to take up HR 1223, the ANCHOR Act, today under the suspension of the rules process.

For more information on these hearings, see my article at CFSN Detailed Analysis - https://patrickcoyle.substack.com/p/committee-hearings-week-of-5-18-25 - subscription required.

Review - Bills Introduced – 1-29-25

Yesterday, with just the Senate in session, there were 42 bills introduced. One of those bills will receive additional coverage in this blog:

S 318 A bill to require a plan to improve the cybersecurity and telecommunications of the U.S. Academic Research Fleet, and for other purposes. Padilla, Alex [Sen.-D-CA]

For more information on this bill, including a possible history from the 118^th Congress, see my article at CFSN Detailed Analysis - https://patrickcoyle.substack.com/p/bills-introduced-1-29-25 - subscription required.