Accessing Satellite Capabilities to Enable New Discoveries Act

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the ASCEND Act. The bill would codify the successful Commercial Satellite Data Acquisition pilot program.

The data acquired from the pilot project was shown to complement Earth observations from NASA's fleet of satellites and instruments. NASA has continued these activities as the Commercial SmallSat Data Acquisition Pilot Program.

This bill also allows us to acquire commercial Earth remote sensing data and imagery from vendors. The bill also includes provisions to support data publication, transparency, and reports to Congress, and to ensure the widest possible use of the data procured under the program consistent with program goals.

This bill supports both science and our commercial remote sensing industry, such as companies in my home Commonwealth of Virginia, by augmenting scientific research with additional sources of data and leveraging commercial capabilities.

I thank the bill's sponsors for their work on the ASCEND Act and encourage my colleagues to support this legislation, as well.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues, Mr. Hurd and Ms. Bonamici, for their work on this legislation. It is a great bill. I am a cosponsor myself. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 2600, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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