H.R. 2600 Passed the House Science, Technology, Communications

Accessing Satellite Capabilities to Enable New Discoveries Act

To require the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to establish a program to identify, evaluate, acquire, and disseminate commercial Earth remote sensing data and imagery in order to satisfy the scientific, operational, and educational requirements of the Administration, and for other purposes.

  1. Introduced
  2. Committee
  3. Passed House
  4. Passed Senate
  5. To President
  6. Became law
Sponsor Rep. Hurd, Jeff [R-CO-3] Introduced April 2, 2025 Cosponsors 6 (4 D, 2 R) Latest action February 24, 2026

Summary

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.  

Summary by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.

Congress.gov

Actions

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

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