ASCEND Act

Sponsored byRep. Hurd, Jeff [R-CO-3]CO· Introduced 2 April 2025

Open on Congress.gov

Cosponsors

Actions

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Committees

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Latest action

Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 344.

24 February 2026·4 months ago

Summary

Introduced in House · Updated 18 February 2026

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.

Timeline

15 actions

Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 344.
24 February 2026 · Calendars
Mr. Babin moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
23 February 2026 · Floor
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2242-2244)
23 February 2026 · Floor
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2600.
23 February 2026 · Floor
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2242-2243)
23 February 2026 · Floor
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2242-2243)
23 February 2026 · Floor
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
23 February 2026 · Floor
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 428.
20 February 2026 · Calendars
Reported by the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. H. Rept. 119-502.
20 February 2026 · Committee
Reported by the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. H. Rept. 119-502.
20 February 2026 · Committee
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
29 April 2025 · Committee
Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
29 April 2025 · Committee
Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
2 April 2025 · IntroReferral
Introduced in House
2 April 2025 · IntroReferral
Introduced in House
2 April 2025 · IntroReferral

Sponsorship

6 cosponsors

Sponsor

Rep. Hurd, Jeff [R-CO-3]CO

Cosponsors

Democrat467%
Republican233%

Democrat:Rep. Riley, Josh [D-NY-19]NY
Republican:Rep. Kean, Thomas H. [R-NJ-7]NJ
Republican:Rep. Crank, Jeff [R-CO-5]CO
Democrat:Rep. Gillen, Laura [D-NY-4]NY
Democrat:Rep. Subramanyam, Suhas [D-VA-10]VA
Democrat:Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1]OR

Classification

Policy area

Science, Technology, Communications

Legislative subjects

Congressional oversightEarth sciencesPhotography and imagingSpace flight and explorationSpacecraft and satellites

Committees

Science, Space, and Technology Committee
House · Standing
- Referred To2 Apr 2025
- Markup By29 Apr 2025
- Reported By20 Feb 2026

Reports

H. Rept. 119-502

Cosponsor momentum

Cumulative over time

Track ASCEND Act as it moves through Congress