Congressman Fong's ANCHOR Act Passes U.S. House of Representatives

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed Congressman Vince Fong’s (CA-20) bill, H.R. 1223, the Accelerating Networking, Cyberinfrastructure, and Hardware for Oceanic Research Act, by a vote of 412-11. Known as the ANCHOR Act, this bipartisan legislation aims to protect the integrity of our nation's Academic Research Fleet and ensure the valuable data collected at sea remains secure from emerging cyber threats.

“We are one step closer to enacting vital legislation that will protect America's critical data,” said Congressman Fong. “Cybersecurity and data protection threats are on the rise, making the ANCHOR Act both essential to national security and a necessary step to protect taxpayer dollars. With such significant national investment in this research, our scientists deserve the tools they need to safeguard their work.”

Specifically, the ANCHOR Act protects these mobile laboratories by requiring the National Science Foundation to develop a plan for the U.S. Academic Research Fleet’s cyberinfrastructure and communications systems to meet today’s research and security demands.

Since the 1960s, the Academic Research Fleet have supported federally sponsored missions that impact everything from human health and energy development to ocean hazards and national security. However, these ships face modern challenges and lack the secure cyberinfrastructure needed to protect sensitive data and communicate reliably across global networks, which leaves them vulnerable to cyber threats from foreign adversaries.

“The ANCHOR Act is a critical step toward modernizing the digital backbone of our nation’s ocean research fleet. These vessels support vital missions in public health, national security, and environmental monitoring, and they deserve secure, 21st-century infrastructure. I thank Congressman Fong for his leadership on this bill and am proud to support this bipartisan effort to strengthen American science and cybersecurity,” said Congressman Brian Babin, Chairman of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee.  

"The House passage of the ANCHOR Act marks a vital step toward strengthening the cybersecurity resiliency of the U.S. Academic Research Fleet, including the Great Lakes' own R/V Blue Heron," said Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11). "These research vessels provide cutting edge science that advances our understanding of the changing conditions in Michigan's Great Lakes. As research infrastructure remains a vulnerable target for cyber threats, the ANCHOR Act will ensure these vital vessels remain operational and secure, safeguarding Michigan's Great Lakes and marine ecosystems for generations to come."

You can watch Congressman Fong’s full remarks on the ANCHOR Acthere. 

Background:

The ANCHOR Act was introduced by Congressman Vince Fong (CA-20) and co-led by Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11). This bill directs the National Science Foundation to create a comprehensive plan to upgrade the cybersecurity and communications systems on the U.S. Academic Research Fleet to include enhanced network capabilities, video communication for education and outreach, and secure access for researchers working remotely.

Congressman Fong serves as a member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee.