1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Accelerating Networking, Cyberinfrastructure, and Hardware for Oceanic Research Act or the ANCHOR Act . 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) U.S. Academic Research Fleet The term U.S. Academic Research Fleet means the United States-flagged vessels that— (A) have been accepted into, and are active participants administered within, the University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System; (B) are operated as oceanographic research vessels by research universities and laboratories; (C) receive funding from the National Science Foundation; and (D) have achieved designation as a member vessel through a standard evaluation process. (2) Director The term Director means the Director of the National Science Foundation. (3) Oceanographic research vessel The term oceanographic research vessel has the meaning given the term in section 2101 of title 46, United States Code. 3. Plan to improve cybersecurity and telecommunications of U.S. Academic Research Fleet (a) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall, in consultation with the head of any Federal agency, university, or laboratory that owns or operates a vessel of the U.S. Academic Research Fleet, submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Space, Science, and Technology of the House of Representatives a plan to improve the cybersecurity and telecommunications of the U.S. Academic Research Fleet. (b) Elements The plan required by subsection (a) shall include— (1) an assessment of the telecommunications and networking needs of the U.S. Academic Research Fleet, consistent with the typical scientific mission of that vessel; (2) in accordance with guidance issued by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the National Institute for Standards and Technology, an assessment of cybersecurity needs appropriate for— (A) the ownership of vessels within the U.S. Academic Research Fleet