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The House passed the ANCHOR Act (H.R. 1223) with an overwhelming bipartisan majority. The bill directs the National Science Foundation to modernize internet connectivity and cybersecurity for the nation's academic research ships.
H.R. 1223, known as the ANCHOR Act, requires the National Science Foundation (NSF) to develop a comprehensive plan within 18 months to upgrade the digital infrastructure of the U.S. Academic Research Fleet. These vessels are used by universities and laboratories for oceanographic and climate research. The bill focuses on increasing network speeds for scientific data, improving cybersecurity protections, and providing better internet access for crew members to use services like telemedicine while at sea. This vote was held under a procedure called "suspension of the rules," which is used in the House to quickly pass non-controversial legislation. Because this bypasses certain normal rules and prevents amendments, it requires a higher standard to pass: two-thirds of the members present must vote in favor. This procedure is common for bills that have broad support from both Democrats and Republicans. The bill passed with 412 votes in favor and only 11 against, showing significant bipartisan agreement across both parties. Having passed the House, the bill now moves to the Senate for further consideration. If the Senate also approves it and the President signs it into law, the NSF will begin the planning and cost-assessment process for these technological upgrades.
The bill has been sent to the Senate, where it has been referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation for review.
OPEN BILL →Why it matters. Modernizing research ships ensures that U.S. scientific missions remain technologically competitive and that sensitive research data is protected from cyber threats.
Who’s affected. Academic Researchers: Will benefit from faster data transmission and better remote collaboration tools while conducting research at sea. · Ship Crews: Gain access to reliable telemedicine and personal communication services through improved connectivity. · K-12 Students: Enables better real-time educational streaming from research vessels directly to classrooms.
Democrats. All 206 voting Democrats supported the bill.
Republicans. A large majority of Republicans (205) supported the bill, while 11 voted against it.
On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass
May 20, 2025
The House passed the ANCHOR Act (H.R.
1223) with an overwhelming bipartisan majority. The bill directs the National Science Foundation to modernize internet connectivity and cybersecurity for the nation's academic research ships.
This vote used a 'suspension of the rules' procedure, typically reserved for bipartisan, non-controversial bills. This method allows for a faster process but requires a two-thirds supermajority for passage rather than a simple majority.
The bill has been sent to the Senate, where it has been referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation for review.
Modernizing research ships ensures that U.S. scientific missions remain technologically competitive and that sensitive research data is protected from cyber threats.
The vote was nearly unanimous, with the vast majority of both Democrats and Republicans supporting the measure.
All 206 voting Democrats supported the bill.
A large majority of Republicans (205) supported the bill, while 11 voted against it.
The lone Independent member voted in favor of the bill.