119th Congress
S. 1437
ASCEND Act
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To President
- Became law
- Sponsor
- John W. Hickenlooper(D-CO)
- Introduced
- Apr 10, 2025
- Policy area
- Science, Technology, Communications
- Committees
- Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
- Official text
- Engrossed in Senate · Congress.gov page
Cosponsors (1)
Original cosponsors (1)
- John Cornyn (R-TX)
Summary
Summary by the Congressional Research Service· describes the “Passed Senate” version
Accessing Satellite Capabilities to Enable New Discoveries Act or the ASCEND Act
This bill provides statutory authority for the Commercial SmallSat Data Acquisition (CSDA) program run by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Through the CSDA program, NASA acquires remote sensing data and imagery from commercial satellites to support its Earth science research. (Remote sensing generally refers to the collection of data by instruments in Earth’s orbit, such as satellites, that can be processed into imagery of Earth’s surface.)
Under the bill, NASA may establish or modify end-use agreements to allow for broad use of data and imagery acquired under the program, including by individuals outside of NASA (e.g., other federal agencies). The terms of any data or imagery acquisition may not prevent the publication of such data or imagery for scientific purposes or the publication of information derived from it. To the extent practicable, NASA must acquire such data and imagery from U.S. vendors.
Roll-call votes
No recorded votes on this bill.
Actions
- Dec 10, 2025 · House
Held at the desk. - Dec 10, 2025 · House
Received in the House. - Dec 10, 2025 · Senate
Message on Senate action sent to the House. - Dec 9, 2025 · Senate
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8581; text: CR S8581) - Dec 9, 2025
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. - Sep 29, 2025 · Senate
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 173. - Sep 29, 2025 · Senate
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 119-68. - Apr 30, 2025 · Senate
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably. - Apr 10, 2025 · Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. - Apr 10, 2025
Introduced in Senate