H. Rpt. 119-502 accompanies the "Accessing Satellite Capabilities to Enable New Discoveries Act" — legislation that falls within the Science, Space, and Technology Committee's jurisdiction. Committee reports serve as the official legislative history of a bill, documenting what the legislation would do and why the committee recommends passage. Reports of this kind include the committee's section-by-section analysis, any amendments adopted during markup, the Congressional Budget Office cost estimate, dissenting views from minority members, and the legal basis for the legislation. Courts and agencies consult committee reports when interpreting enacted laws, making these documents important beyond the immediate legislative moment.
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House Report 119-502 - ACCESSING SATELLITE CAPABILITIES TO ENABLE NEW DISCOVERIES ACT
[House Report 119-502]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
119th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session } { 119-502
======================================================================
ACCESSING SATELLITE CAPABILITIES TO ENABLE NEW DISCOVERIES ACT
_______
February 20, 2026.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on
the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Babin, from the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 2600]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, to whom
was referred the bill (H.R. 2600) 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,
having considered the same, reports favorably thereon without
amendment and recommends that the bill do pass.
CONTENTS
Page
Purpose and Summary.............................................. 2
Background and Need for Legislation.............................. 2
Legislative History.............................................. 2
Section-by-Section............................................... 3
Related Committee Hearings....................................... 3
Committee Consideration.......................................... 3
Application of Law to the Legislative Branch..................... 3
Statement of Oversight Findings and Recommendations of the
Committee...................................................... 4
Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives............ 4
Duplication of Federal Programs.................................. 4
Federal Advisory Committee Act................................... 4
Unfunded Mandate Statement....................................... 4
Earmark Identification........................................... 4
Committee Cost Estimate.......................................... 4
New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures 5
Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate........................ 5
Changes to Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported............ 6
Purpose and Summary
H.R. 2600 establishes a National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA) program to procure commercial Earth
remote sensing data and imagery. This bill directs the NASA
Administrator to establish a commercial satellite data
acquisition program within the Science Mission Directorate to
identify, evaluate, acquire, and disseminate commercial remote
sensing data to help fulfill Administration requirements.
Background and Need for Legislation
NASA uses space-based remote sensing to observe the Earth
and its atmosphere by detecting energy that is reflected or
emitted from the planet. Data from these observations informs
our understanding of the Earth and the activities of its five
major systems. In addition to scientific research, precision
agriculture, natural disaster monitoring, land management, and
many other applications benefit from use of remote sensing
data.
NASA and other agencies have used space-based Earth remote
sensing data for decades, traditionally gathered from
satellites owned and operated by the federal government. Over
time, an increasing number of commercial Earth remote sensing
providers emerged providing a range of data for the government
to purchase to augment or complement the suite of Earth
observations acquired by the Administration, other U.S.
government, and international partners.
The U.S. Land Remote Sensing Policy Act of 1992 established
a licensing process for privately operated Earth remote sensing
systems. In 2003, the U.S. Commercial Remote Sensing Space
Policy made it government policy to ``rely to the maximum
practical extent on U.S. commercial remote sensing space
capabilities. . . .'' In 2017, NASA established the Commercial
SmallSat Data Acquisition Pilot Program to identify and
evaluate remote sensing data it could acquire from commercial
providers. A few years later, a 2020 NASA report declared the
pilot program had been a success. That same year, the
Department of Commerce updated the licensing regime for private
remote sensing space systems in an effort to ensure continued
U.S. leadership in the commercial Earth remote sensing market
in light of increasing international competition in the sector.
H.R. 2600 builds off past government efforts to enable the
development of the commercial Earth remote sensing industry and
recognizes the success of the Commercial SmallSat Data
Acquisition Pilot Program by formally authorizing the program.
In doing so, it allows the government to complement its Earth
observation capabilities by accessing cost-effective remote
sensing data to further NASA's scientific, operational, and
educational requirements. It also supports the continued growth
of the U.S. commercial Earth remote sensing industry, and
strengthens its standing in the growing, competitive global
commercial remote sensing market.
Legislative History
H.R. 2600 was introduced on April 02, 2025, by Rep. Hurd
(R-CO) and is cosponsored by Reps. Bonamici (D-OR), Subramanyam
(D-VA), Crank (R-CO), Gillen (D-NY), Riley (D-NY), and Kean (R-
NJ).
Section-by-Section
Section 1. Short title
The short title of this legislation is ``Accessing
Satellite Capabilities to Enable New Discoveries Act'' or the
``ASCEND Act.''
Section 2. Commercial satellite data
This section lists the findings of Congress. It also amends
Chapter 603 of title 51, United States Code, to establish a
program within NASA's Science Mission Directorate to acquire
and disseminate cost-effective and appropriate commercial Earth
remote sensing data and imagery to satisfy the Administration's
requirements and, where appropriate, of other Federal agencies.
Further, it sets conditions to enable continued government
publication of commercial remote sensing data and imagery to
advance scientific goals. It also requires an annual report
that lists and describes the agreements that are providing
commercial Earth remote sensing data and imagery to NASA.
Related Committee Hearings
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(6) of rule XIII, the following
hearing was used to develop or consider H.R. 2600.
On March 21, 2024, the Subcommittee on Space and
Aeronautics held a hearing titled ``Advancing Scientific
Discovery: Assessing the Status of NASA's Science Mission
Directorate.'' Members and witnesses discussed the need for
remote sensing data and the possibility of procuring commercial
Earth remote sensing data to satisfy NASA's needs.
Witnesses:
Dr. Nicola Fox, Associate Administrator,
Science Mission Directorate, National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
Mr. George A. Scott, Acting Inspector
General, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Dr. Jonathan I. Lunine, The David C. Duncan
Professor in the Physical Sciences, Cornell University
Mr. A. Thomas Young, Former Director,
Goddard Space Flight Center and Former President and
COO, Martin Marietta Corp
Committee Consideration
On April 29, 2025, the Committee on Science, Space, and
Technology met to consider H.R. 2600.
Chairman Babin (R-TX) moved that the Committee favorably
report the bill to the House of Representatives with the
recommendation that the bill be approved. The motion was agreed
to by a voice vote, a quorum being present.
Application of Law to the Legislative Branch
The Committee finds that H.R. 2600 does not relate to the
terms and conditions of employment or access to public services
or accommodations within the meaning of section 102(b)(3) of
the Congressional Accountability Act (Public Law 104-1).
Statement of Oversight Findings and Recommendations of the Committee
In compliance with clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII and clause
(2)(b)(1) of rule X, the Committee's oversight findings and
recommendations are reflected in the descriptive portions of
this report.
Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives
Pursuant to clause (3)(c)(4) of rule XIII, the goal of H.R.
2600 is to build off past government efforts to enable the
development of the commercial Earth remote sensing industry and
recognizes the success of the Commercial SmallSat Data
Acquisition Pilot Program by making it permanent. In doing so,
it allows the government to complement its Earth observation
capabilities by accessing cost-effective remote sensing data to
further NASA's scientific, operational, and educational
requirements. It also supports the continued growth of the U.S.
commercial Earth remote sensing industry, and strengths its
standing in the growing, competitive global commercial remote
sensing market.
Duplication of Federal Programs
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(5) of rule XIII, the Committee
finds that no provision of H.R. 2600 establishes or
reauthorizes a program of the Federal Government known to be
duplicative of another Federal program, including any program
that was included in a report to Congress pursuant to section
21 of Public Law 111-139 or identified in the most recent
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance.
Federal Advisory Committee Act
The Committee finds that the legislation does not establish
or authorize the establishment of an advisory committee within
the definition of section 5(b) of the Federal Advisory
Committee Act.
Unfunded Mandate Statement
The Committee adopts as its own the estimate of Federal
mandates prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office pursuant to section 423 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform
Act.
Earmark Identification
Pursuant to clauses 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI, the
Committee finds that H.R. 2600 does not include any
congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff
benefits.
Committee Cost Estimate
Pursuant to clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII, the Committee
adopts as its own the cost estimate prepared by the Director of
the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 402 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII, the Committee
finds that H.R. 2600 would result in no new or increased budget
authority, entitlement authority, or tax expenditures or
revenues.
Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate
With respect to the requirements of clause (3)(c)(3) of
rule XIII and section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of
1974, the Committee has received the following cost estimate
for H.R. 2600 from the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office:
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
H.R. 2600 would codify the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration's (NASA's) Commercial SmallSat Data Acquisition
pilot program, which identifies commercial sources for
acquiring remote-sensing data and imagery of the Earth. Data
collected would be disseminated internally, to other federal
agencies, and to researchers. The bill would require NASA to
report to the Congress, within 180 days of enactment and
annually thereafter, on all agreements established under the
program. Based on the cost of similar activities, CBO estimates
that implementing the bill's reporting requirements would cost
less than $500,000 over the 2025-2030 period. Any related
spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated
funds.
On August 13, 2025, CBO transmitted a cost estimate for S.
1437, the ASCEND Act, as ordered reported by the Senate
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on April 30,
2025. The two bills are similar, and CBO's estimates of their
budgetary effects are the same.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Willow Latham-
Proenca. The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss,
Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.
Phillip L. Swagel,
Director, Congressional Budget Office.
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (new matter is
printed in italics and existing law in which no change is
proposed is shown in roman):
TITLE 51, UNITED STATES CODE
* * * * * * *
SUBTITLE VI--EARTH OBSERVATIONS
* * * * * * *
CHAPTER 603--REMOTE SENSING
Sec.
60301. Definitions.
* * * * * * *
60307. Commercial Satellite Data Acquisition Program.
* * * * * * *
Sec. 60307. Commercial satellite data acquisition program
(a) In General.--The Administrator shall establish within the
Earth Science Division of the Science Mission Directorate a
program to acquire and disseminate cost-effective and
appropriate commercial Earth remote sensing data and imagery in
order to satisfy the scientific, operational, and educational
requirements of the Administration, and where appropriate, of
other Federal agencies and scientific researchers to augment or
complement the suite of Earth observations acquired by the
Administration, other United States Government agencies, and
international partners.
(b) Data Publication and Transparency.--The terms and
conditions of commercial Earth remote sensing data and imagery
acquisitions under the program described in subsection (a)
shall not prevent--
(1) the publication of commercial data or imagery for
scientific purposes; or
(2) the publication of information that is derived
from, incorporates, or enhances the original commercial
data or imagery of a vendor.
(c) Authorization.--In carrying out the program under this
section, the Administrator may--
(1) procure commercial Earth remote sensing data and
imagery from commercial vendors to advance scientific
research and applications in accordance with subsection
(a); and
(2) establish or modify end-use license terms and
conditions to allow for the widest-possible use of
procured commercial Earth remote sensing data and
imagery by individuals other than NASA-funded users,
consistent with the goals of the program.
(d) United States Vendors.--Commercial Earth remote sensing
data and imagery referred to in subsections (a) and (c) shall,
to the maximum extent practicable, be procured from United
States vendors.
(c) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this section and annually thereafter, the
Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives
a report that includes the following information regarding the
agreements, vendors, license terms, and uses of commercial
Earth remote sensing data and imagery under this section:
(1)(A) In the case of the initial report, a list of
all agreements that are providing commercial Earth
remote sensing data and imagery to NASA as of the date
of the report.
(B) For each subsequent report, a list of all
agreements that have provided commercial Earth remote
sensing data and imagery to NASA during the reporting
period.
(2) A description of the end-use license terms and
conditions for each such vendor.
(3) A description of the manner in which each such
agreement is advancing scientific research and
applications, including priorities recommended by the
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and
Medicine decadal surveys.
(4) Information specifying whether the Administrator
has entered into an agreement with a commercial vendor
or a Federal agency that permits the use of data and
imagery by Federal Government employees, contractors,
or non-Federal users.
* * * * * * *
[all]