Legis Daily

ASCEND Act

USA119th CongressHR-2600| House 
| Updated: 2/24/2026
Jeff Hurd

Jeff Hurd

Republican Representative

Colorado

Cosponsors (6)
Jeff Crank (Republican)Laura Gillen (Democratic)Thomas H. Kean (Republican)Suhas Subramanyam (Democratic)Josh Riley (Democratic)Suzanne Bonamici (Democratic)

Science, Space, and Technology Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This legislation requires the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to establish a formal program for acquiring and disseminating commercial Earth remote sensing data and imagery. This program, to be housed within NASA's Earth Science Division, aims to satisfy the agency's scientific, operational, and educational requirements, while also supporting other federal agencies and researchers. It builds upon the success of NASA's Commercial SmallSat Data Acquisition Pilot Program, which demonstrated the value of commercial data for Earth science research. The bill mandates that the terms of data acquisition must not prevent the publication of commercial data for scientific purposes or the dissemination of information derived from it. It authorizes NASA to procure data and establish flexible end-use license terms to ensure the widest possible use of the acquired data, including by non-NASA-funded users. Furthermore, the program prioritizes procuring data from United States vendors whenever practicable and requires annual reports to Congress detailing agreements, vendors, license terms, and the scientific advancements enabled by the data.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
4 versions available

Suggested Questions

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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 116-277
ASCEND Act of 2019

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-6219
ASCEND Act
Apr 2, 2025
Introduced in House
Apr 2, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
Apr 29, 2025
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Apr 29, 2025
Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
Dec 10, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 119-1437
Held at the desk.
Feb 20, 2026
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 428.
Feb 20, 2026
Reported by the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. H. Rept. 119-502.
Feb 23, 2026
Mr. Babin moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Feb 23, 2026
Considered under suspension of the rules.
Feb 23, 2026
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2242-2244)
Feb 23, 2026
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2600.
Feb 23, 2026
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
Feb 23, 2026
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)
Feb 23, 2026
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2242-2243)
Feb 23, 2026
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
Feb 23, 2026
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Feb 24, 2026
Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 344.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 116-277
    ASCEND Act of 2019


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-6219
    ASCEND Act


  • April 2, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • April 2, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.


  • April 29, 2025
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held


  • April 29, 2025
    Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.


  • December 10, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 119-1437
    Held at the desk.


  • February 20, 2026
    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 428.


  • February 20, 2026
    Reported by the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. H. Rept. 119-502.


  • February 23, 2026
    Mr. Babin moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.


  • February 23, 2026
    Considered under suspension of the rules.


  • February 23, 2026
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2242-2244)


  • February 23, 2026
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2600.


  • February 23, 2026
    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.


  • February 23, 2026
    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)


  • February 23, 2026
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2242-2243)


  • February 23, 2026
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.


  • February 23, 2026
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • February 24, 2026
    Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 344.

Science, Technology, Communications

Related Bills

  • S 119-1437: ASCEND Act
  • S 119-933: NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2025
Congressional oversightEarth sciencesPhotography and imagingSpacecraft and satellitesSpace flight and exploration

ASCEND Act

USA119th CongressHR-2600| House 
| Updated: 2/24/2026
This legislation requires the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to establish a formal program for acquiring and disseminating commercial Earth remote sensing data and imagery. This program, to be housed within NASA's Earth Science Division, aims to satisfy the agency's scientific, operational, and educational requirements, while also supporting other federal agencies and researchers. It builds upon the success of NASA's Commercial SmallSat Data Acquisition Pilot Program, which demonstrated the value of commercial data for Earth science research. The bill mandates that the terms of data acquisition must not prevent the publication of commercial data for scientific purposes or the dissemination of information derived from it. It authorizes NASA to procure data and establish flexible end-use license terms to ensure the widest possible use of the acquired data, including by non-NASA-funded users. Furthermore, the program prioritizes procuring data from United States vendors whenever practicable and requires annual reports to Congress detailing agreements, vendors, license terms, and the scientific advancements enabled by the data.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
4 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 116-277
ASCEND Act of 2019

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-6219
ASCEND Act
Apr 2, 2025
Introduced in House
Apr 2, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
Apr 29, 2025
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Apr 29, 2025
Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
Dec 10, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 119-1437
Held at the desk.
Feb 20, 2026
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 428.
Feb 20, 2026
Reported by the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. H. Rept. 119-502.
Feb 23, 2026
Mr. Babin moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Feb 23, 2026
Considered under suspension of the rules.
Feb 23, 2026
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2242-2244)
Feb 23, 2026
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2600.
Feb 23, 2026
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
Feb 23, 2026
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)
Feb 23, 2026
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2242-2243)
Feb 23, 2026
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
Feb 23, 2026
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Feb 24, 2026
Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 344.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 116-277
    ASCEND Act of 2019


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-6219
    ASCEND Act


  • April 2, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • April 2, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.


  • April 29, 2025
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held


  • April 29, 2025
    Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.


  • December 10, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 119-1437
    Held at the desk.


  • February 20, 2026
    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 428.


  • February 20, 2026
    Reported by the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. H. Rept. 119-502.


  • February 23, 2026
    Mr. Babin moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.


  • February 23, 2026
    Considered under suspension of the rules.


  • February 23, 2026
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2242-2244)


  • February 23, 2026
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2600.


  • February 23, 2026
    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.


  • February 23, 2026
    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)


  • February 23, 2026
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2242-2243)


  • February 23, 2026
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.


  • February 23, 2026
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • February 24, 2026
    Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 344.
Jeff Hurd

Jeff Hurd

Republican Representative

Colorado

Cosponsors (6)
Jeff Crank (Republican)Laura Gillen (Democratic)Thomas H. Kean (Republican)Suhas Subramanyam (Democratic)Josh Riley (Democratic)Suzanne Bonamici (Democratic)

Science, Space, and Technology Committee

Science, Technology, Communications

Related Bills

  • S 119-1437: ASCEND Act
  • S 119-933: NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2025
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Congressional oversightEarth sciencesPhotography and imagingSpacecraft and satellitesSpace flight and exploration