This legislation requires the Director of the National Science Foundation to submit a comprehensive plan within 18 months to significantly improve the cybersecurity and telecommunications infrastructure of the U.S. Academic Research Fleet. Developed in consultation with other federal agencies and university/laboratory operators, this plan will be submitted to relevant committees in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, aiming to enhance the fleet's operational and research capabilities. The mandated plan must include several key elements, starting with an assessment of the telecommunications, networking, and cybersecurity needs of the fleet, adhering to guidance from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the National Institute for Standards and Technology. It also requires a detailed assessment of the estimated costs for necessary equipment and personnel, including their impact on daily charter rates, and projections for implementation time under various funding scenarios. The plan will also explore opportunities for common solutions, consortial agreements, or centralized management of fleet cybersecurity and data. Furthermore, the Director is tasked with developing a spending plan, in collaboration with non-Federal owners, involving funding from entities such as the National Science Foundation and the Office of Naval Research. Important considerations for the plan include network capabilities for critical vessel functions, personnel well-being (including telemedicine), secure data upload for disaster recovery, real-time streaming for remote participation, and educational outreach. Finally, the bill allows for the implementation of upgrades consistent with the plan and requires a progress report two years after the plan's submission.