S. Rpt. 119-64 accompanies infrastructure legislation titled "Accelerating Networking, Cyberinfrastructure, and Hardware for Oceanic Research Act". Infrastructure bills affect highways, bridges, airports, transit, water systems, broadband, ports, or federal buildings. The Finance Committee's report describes the infrastructure need, the proposed federal investment or regulatory change, and projected economic and community benefits. Infrastructure reports typically include analysis of safety, efficiency, environmental impact, and regional effects.
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Senate Report 119-64 - ACCELERATING NETWORKING, CYBERINFRASTRUCTURE, AND HARDWARE FOR OCEANIC RESEARCH ACT
[Senate Report 119-64]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Calendar No. 169
119th Congress } { Report
SENATE
1st Session } { 119-64
_______________________________________________________________________
ACCELERATING NETWORKING, CYBERINFRASTRUCTURE, AND HARDWARE FOR
OCEANIC RESEARCH ACT
__________
R E P O R T
of the
COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND
TRANSPORTATION
on
S. 318
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
September 29, 2025.--Ordered to be printed
------
U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
59-010 WASHINGTON : 2025
SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION
one hundred nineteenth congress
first session
TED CRUZ, Texas, Chairman
JOHN THUNE, South Dakota MARIA CANTWELL, Washington
ROGER F. WICKER, Mississippi AMY KLOBUCHAR, Minnesota
DEB FISCHER, Nebraska BRIAN SCHATZ, Hawaii
JERRY MORAN, Kansas EDWARD J. MARKEY, Massachusetts
DAN SULLIVAN, Alaska GARY C. PETERS, Michigan
MARSHA BLACKBURN, Tennessee TAMMY BALDWIN, Wisconsin
TODD YOUNG, Indiana TAMMY DUCKWORTH, Illinois
TED BUDD, North Carolina JACKY ROSEN, Nevada
ERIC SCHMITT, Missouri BEN RAY LUJAN, New Mexico
JOHN CURTIS, Utah JOHN W. HICKENLOOPER, Colorado
BERNIE MORENO, Ohio JOHN FETTERMAN, Pennsylvania
TIM SHEEHY, Montana ANDY KIM, New Jersey
SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO, West Virginia LISA BLUNT ROCHESTER, Delaware
CYNTHIA M. LUMMIS, Wyoming
Brad Grantz, Majority Staff Director
Lila Harper Helms, Democratic Staff Director
Calendar No. 169
119th Congress } { Report
SENATE
1st Session } { 119-64
=======================================================================
ACCELERATING NETWORKING, CYBERINFRASTRUCTURE,
AND HARDWARE FOR OCEANIC RESEARCH ACT
----------------
September 29, 2025--Ordered to be printed
----------------
Mr. Cruz, from the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation, submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany S. 318]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, to
which was referred the bill (S. 318) to require a plan to
improve the cybersecurity and telecommunications of the U.S.
Academic Research Fleet, and for other purposes, having
considered the same, reports favorably thereon with an
amendment in the nature of a substitute and recommends that the
bill, as amended, do pass.
PURPOSE OF THE BILL
The purpose of the bill is to require the National Science
Foundation (NSF) Director to create a plan to improve the
cybersecurity and telecommunications of the U.S. Academic
Research Fleet (ARF). The Director would create a spending plan
to fund the identified improvements in consultation with vessel
owners, operators, and users of ARF and identify a timeline
required to implement necessary upgrades.
BACKGROUND AND NEEDS
ARF is made up of 17 oceanographic vessels and other
submersibles/autonomous vehicles that are owned by NSF, the
Office of Naval Research (ONR), and U.S. universities and
laboratories.\1\ All ARF ships, regardless of ownership, are
operated by U.S. universities and laboratories, also referred
to as the University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System
(UNLOS). The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA) and ONR are the principal Federal agencies that support
ARF through interagency partnerships. NSF supports
approximately 70 percent of the total usage of the fleet, while
the remaining cost is divided proportionally among the vessel
users based on usage.\2\
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\1\``The U.S. Academic Research Fleet,'' University-National
Oceanographic Laboratory System, https://www.unols.org/us-academic-
research-fleet-0.
\2\Ibid.
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ARF has aging infrastructure and equipment, with the
youngest vessel built in 2014 and the oldest in 1976.\3\ While
each vessel has individually undergone various retrofits
throughout the years to stay seaworthy, vessel operators have
cybersecurity and telecommunications concerns. Maritime
cybersecurity is a growing concern for commercial and
governmental vessel operators, with ARF facing an additional
degree of risk based on its research when compared to other
maritime vessels transiting the same areas.\4\ In addition,
these vessels may conduct sensitive research on behalf, or to
the benefit of, the U.S. Government and military, including as
part of the Naval Research Enterprise.\5\
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\3\``UNOLS Designated Vessels,'' University-National Oceanographic
Laboratory System, https://www.unols.org/ships-facilities/unols-
vessels/unols-designated-vessels/unols-designated-vessels.
\4\``Domestic Ports Division: Cyber Security,'' U.S. Coast Guard,
https://www.dco.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/Assistant-Commandant-for-
Prevention-Policy-CG-5P/Inspections-Compliance-CG-5PC-/Office-of-Port-
Facility-Compliance/Domestic-Ports-Division/cybersecurity/.
\5\U.S. Department of the Navy, Office of Naval Research, The Naval
Research Enterprise: UNOLS-AICC, 2021, https://www.unols.org/sites/
default/files/2021%20AICC%20Winter%20
Meeting%20Appendix%20IX%20-%20ONR%20Update.pdf.
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SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS
S. 318 would do the following:
Require the NSF Director to submit a plan to
Congress to improve the cybersecurity and
telecommunications of ARF, including assessments of
current telecommunications and networking needs,
current cybersecurity needs, cost of necessary
equipment, and a timeline for the upgrades.
Require the NSF Director to consult the users,
operators, and owners of the vessels to provide a
spending plan to cover the costs of upgrades.
Consider network access for telemedicine, scientific
instrumentation, ship-based maintenance, aligning
international standards, cybersecurity training, and
requirements for controlled or classified information
on the vessel for the plan.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
S. 318 was introduced on January 29, 2025, by Senator
Padilla (for himself and Senator Sullivan) and was referred to
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the
Senate. On May 21, 2025, the Committee met in open Executive
Session and, by voice vote, ordered S. 318 reported favorably
with an amendment (in the nature of a substitute).
H.R. 1223, a bill similar to S. 318, was introduced on
February 12, 2025, by Representative Fong (for himself and
Representative Stevens) and was referred to the Committee on
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives.
Representatives Obernolte, McBride, Riley, and Begich were
later added as cosponsors. On April 29, 2025, that Committee
met in open Executive Session and, by voice vote, ordered H.R.
1223 reported favorably without amendment. On May 20, 2025,
H.R. 1223 passed the House by a vote of 412-11.
118th Congress
S. 3943, the ANCHOR Act, was introduced on March 14, 2024,
by Senator Padilla (for himself and Senator Sullivan) and was
referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate. Senators Peters, Whitehouse, and
Murkowski were additional cosponsors. On July 31, 2024, the
Committee met in open Executive Session and, by voice vote,
ordered S. 3943 reported favorably without amendment.
H.R. 7630, a House bill related to S. 3943, was introduced
on March 12, 2024, by Representative Garcia (CA) (for himself
and Representative Stevens) and was referred to the Committee
on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of
Representatives. On March 20, 2024, that Committee met in open
Executive Session and, by voice vote, ordered H.R. 7630
reported favorably without amendment. On September 23, 2024,
H.R. 7630, as amended, passed the House by voice vote.
ESTIMATED COSTS
In accordance with paragraph 11(a) of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate and section 403 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee provides the
following cost estimate, prepared by the Congressional Budget
Office:
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
S. 318 would require the National Science Foundation (NSF)
to develop a plan to improve cybersecurity and
telecommunications aboard vessels within the U.S. Academic
Research Fleet, which currently includes 17 vessels that
collect data for marine research. The NSF would be required to
report to the Congress on the plan within one year of
enactment.
Using information about the costs of creating similar
plans, CBO estimates that developing the plan would cost the
NSF less than $500,000 over the 2025-2030 period. Any related
spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated
funds.
The CBO staff contacts for this estimate are Emma Uebelhor
and Willow Latham-Proenca. The estimate was reviewed by H.
Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.
Phillip L. Swagel,
Director, Congressional Budget Office.
Regulatory Impact Statement
In accordance with paragraph 11(b) of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee provides the
following evaluation of the regulatory impact of the
legislation, as reported:
Number of Persons Covered
S. 318 would direct NSF to develop a plan to improve the
cybersecurity and telecommunications capabilities of ARF.
Additionally, non-Federal vessel owners and operators and users
of ARF could be implicated in the spending plan created in S.
318.
Economic Impact
S. 318 is not anticipated to have an adverse impact on the
Nation's economy.
Privacy
S. 318 is not anticipated to impact the personal privacy of
individuals.
Paperwork
The Committee does not anticipate an increase in paperwork
burdens for private individuals or businesses resulting from
the passage of this legislation. NSF would be required to write
a report on cybersecurity and telecommunications network
improvements that is sent to Congress. Additionally, non-
Federal vessel owners and operators and users of ARF could be
implicated in the creation of a spending plan for the
improvement of cybersecurity and telecommunications of ARF.
CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING
In compliance with paragraph 4(b) of rule XLIV of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee provides that no
provisions contained in the bill, as reported, meet the
definition of congressionally directed spending items under the
rule.
SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS
Section 1. Short title
This section would provide that the bill may be cited as
the ``Accelerating Networking, Cyberinfrastructure, and
Hardware for Oceanic Research Act'' or the ``ANCHOR Act''.
Section 2. Definitions
This section would define the terms ``U.S. Academic
Research Fleet'', ``Director'', and ``oceanographic research
vessel''.
Section 3. Plan to improve cybersecurity and telecommunications of
U.S. Academic Research Fleet
This section would require the NSF Director, not later than
1 year after enactment, to submit a plan to the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of
Representatives to improve the cybersecurity and
telecommunications of ARF.
This section would require the plan to include an
assessment of current telecommunications, networking, and
cybersecurity needs, an assessment of the necessary equipment
and personnel needed to carry out its mission, an assessment of
upgrade timelines, and a plan to adopt common solutions and
agreements at a single facility. It would also require the NSF
Director to consult with non-Federal users and vessel owners to
create a spending plan to cover the costs of the recommended
changes.
Lastly, this section would require the NSF Director to
consider the network capabilities necessary to meet the
scientific mission needs of each class of vessel within the
fleet, consult with the Director of Cybersecurity and
Infrastructure Security Agency and the Director of the National
Institute of Standards and Technology regarding cybersecurity
recommendations and consider providing network access for
communications, telemedicine, data risk mitigation,
maintenance, scientific research, and other relevant purposes.
CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW
In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee states that the
bill as reported would make no change to existing law.
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