Accessing Satellite Capabilities to Enable New Discoveries Act
Floor Speech
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Mr. HURD of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my legislation, H.R. 2600, the Accessing Satellite Capabilities to Enable New Discoveries Act, the ASCEND Act.
This bill builds on a model that already works. In 2017, NASA launched the Commercial Small Satellite Data Acquisition Pilot Program to test whether commercially available Earth observation data could support NASA's scientific missions. The results were clear: Participating scientists found the data reliable, valuable, and highly effective across a broad range of research applications.
The ASCEND Act takes that successful pilot and makes it permanent. It directs NASA to formally establish a commercial satellite acquisition program within the Science Mission Directorate so that the agency can routinely access cost-effective commercial data to complement its own Earth observation missions.
This is a practical approach. Instead of duplicating capabilities, NASA can leverage private-sector innovation. Through commercial licensing, researchers gain access to high-quality satellite data that supports wildfire response, agricultural monitoring, disaster preparedness, reforestation, and environmental tracking. That data translates directly into better decisionmaking on the ground.
This is a model where private investment strengthens public missions, and it supports American jobs, including in Colorado's growing commercial space sector.
The bill also includes appropriate oversight. It requires an annual report to Congress detailing the data acquired, its sources, how it is used within NASA, as well as its measurable impact. That transparency ensures accountability while allowing the program to grow.
At a time when commercial space innovation is accelerating rapidly, Congress should ensure NASA has the flexibility to use the best tools available. The ASCEND Act strengthens America's scientific leadership, supports our domestic space industry, and ensures taxpayer dollars are used efficiently.
I thank Chairman Babin for advancing my bill to the floor. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2600.
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