House passes Fong's cybersecurity bill
A bill co-sponsored by U.S. Rep. Vince Fong, R-Bakersfield, passed the U.S. House of Representatives Tuesday with overwhelming bipartisan support.
If signed into law, the Accelerating Networking, Cyberinfrastructure, and Hardware for Oceanic Research, or ANCHOR Act, would require a plan be developed for the fleet's security.
"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," Fong said in a news release. "With such significant national investment in this research, our scientists deserve the tools they need to safeguard their work."
The U.S. Academic Research Fleet is made up of 17 vessels that collect a wide range of data in coordination with research universities and laboratories.
"ARF vessels collect observational data on Earth systems that provides a foundation for understanding how these systems interact and for improved modeling," according to the University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System, which oversees the fleet.
"Through at-sea sampling and observing, researchers have begun to understand, model and predict the responses of marine populations to both long-term and episodic changes in ocean conditions," UNOLS said.
The bill was co-sponsored by Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Michigan, and passed in the house with a vote of 412-11.
"The ANCHOR Act will ensure these vital vessels remain operational and secure, safeguarding Michigan's Great Lakes and marine ecosystems for generations to come," Stevens said.
Fong and Stevens are both members of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee.
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