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119th Congress Science, Technology, Communications

H.R. 1223: ANCHOR Act

Passed HouseMay 20, 2025

  1. Introduced (completed)Feb 12, 2025
  2. Passed House (completed)May 20, 2025, 412–11
  3. Passed Senate (not reached)
  4. To the President (not reached)
  5. Became law (not reached)

Summary

Introduced in House, Feb 12, 2025

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

Read the full summary
  • telecommunications and networking needs of ARF, consistent with typical scientific missions;
  • cybersecurity needs appropriate for the operation of ARF vessels and their specific research functions;
  • the costs necessary to meet these needs;
  • the time required to implement necessary upgrades; and
  • opportunities for the adoption of common solutions or consortial licensing agreements, or for the centralization of cybersecurity, telecommunications, or data management at a single facility.

The plan must also include a spending plan for the NSF, the Office of Naval Research, nonfederal owners of ARF vessels, and users of the vessels to cover identified costs.

Among other factors specified in the bill, the NSF must consider, as appropriate, the network capabilities necessary to meet mission needs (e.g., to upload data to cloud-based or shoreside servers), international standards and guidance for information security, and requirements for controlled unclassified or classified information.

The plan must be provided to Congress within 18 months of the bill's enactment, and the NSF must later report to Congress on the plan's implementation.

Written by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.

Key votes

House final vote, May 20, 2025

On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass

Passed 412–11

Yea 412two-thirds 282Nay 11

  • Democrats206 yea, 0 nay
  • Republicans205 yea, 11 nay
  • Independents1 yea, 0 nay

Broke with their party: Chip Roy (R-TX), Scott Perry (R-PA), John McGuire (R-VA), Mary Miller (R-IL), Brandon Gill (R-TX), Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Eli Crane (R-AZ), Andrew Clyde (R-GA), Eric Burlison (R-MO) and Tim Burchett (R-TN) voted Nay; and 1 more

See how all 423 members voted

Showing 433 of 433 members

Yea 412

Republicans (205)

Democrats (206)

Independents (1)

Nay 11

Republicans (11) broke with their party

Not voting 10

Republicans (3)

Senate

Not yet voted

Passed the House May 20, 2025. Awaiting Senate action.

Roll calls

1 vote on this bill

Showing 1 of 1 roll calls

  • May 20, 2025HouseOn Motion to Suspend the Rules and PassFinal passagePassed, yea-nay 412–11
    Roll call 136 tally by party
    PartyYeaNayPresentNot voting
    Democrats206007
    Republicans2051103
    Independents1000
    Total41211010

    House roll call 136: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass. Passed.

    11 crossed party lines: 11 Republicans

    How each member voted (433)

Amendments

0 offered

No amendments were offered to this bill.

Cosponsors

5

Bipartisan support.

Who scored on this bill

134 points earned
  1. 1Vince Fong R-CA SponsorDrew cross-party cosponsors, introduced, marked up, passed House4 events+48
  2. 2Andy Biggs R-AZ1 maverick vote1 event+6
  3. 2Tim Burchett R-TN1 maverick vote1 event+6
  4. 2Eric Burlison R-MO1 maverick vote1 event+6
  5. 2Andrew Clyde R-GA1 maverick vote1 event+6
See all scorers and every scoring event

Introductions and cosponsorships count toward weekly caps and show no points.

Other bills by Vince Fong

History

  1. May 20, 2025Passed the House, 412–11.
  2. Feb 12, 2025Introduced in the House by Vince Fong.
Show the full action history (13 actions)
  1. May 21, 2025Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  2. May 20, 2025Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2168)
  3. May 20, 2025Passed/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)
  4. May 20, 2025On 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)
  5. May 20, 2025Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  6. May 19, 2025Mr. Fong moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
  7. May 19, 2025Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2113-2115)
  8. May 19, 2025DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1223.
  9. May 19, 2025At the conclusion of debate, the chair put the question on the motion to suspend the rules. Mr. Babin objected to the vote on the grounds that a quorum was not present. Further proceedings on the motion were postponed. The point of no quorum was considered as withdrawn.
  10. Apr 29, 2025Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
  11. Apr 29, 2025Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
  12. Feb 12, 2025Introduced in House
  13. Feb 12, 2025Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.