119th Congress · Senate bill · Last action Dec 10, 2025
S. 1437Passed SenateScience, Technology, Communications
ASCEND Act
Sponsor: Sen. Hickenlooper, John W. (D-CO)1 cosponsorIntroduced Apr 10, 2025
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In plain English
S. 1437, sponsored by Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO), authorizes NASA's Commercial SmallSat Data Acquisition program to buy remote sensing data and imagery from commercial satellites for Earth science research. The bill allows NASA to create or change agreements that permit broad sharing of the acquired data and imagery with other federal agencies and individuals outside NASA, while requiring that publication of the data for scientific purposes cannot be restricted. NASA must preferentially acquire this data from U.S. vendors where practicable.
Generated by ThePolitibase from the bill text and CRS summary. Read the official text →
Note: the official CRS summary for this bill was written on 2025-12-09, but the bill text was revised on 2025-12-09T05:00:00Z. Provisions may have been added since the summary was written — the section list above reflects the current text.
Where it is in the process
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Introduced
Apr 10
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Senate committee
Apr 30
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Senate floor
Dec 9
4
House
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5
Signed
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What happens next: Cleared the Senate. Now goes to the House for consideration.
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Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
JS
All Republican.
Activity timeline
Dec 10
Dec 10, 2025
Dec 10, 2025
Held at the desk.
Dec 10
Dec 10, 2025
Dec 10, 2025
Received in the House.
Dec 10
Dec 10, 2025
Dec 10, 2025
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Dec 9
Dec 9, 2025
Dec 9, 2025
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8581; text: CR S8581)
Dec 9
Dec 9, 2025
Dec 9, 2025
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
Sep 29
Sep 29, 2025
Sep 29, 2025
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 173.
Sep 29
Sep 29, 2025
Sep 29, 2025
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 119-68.
Sep 29
Sep 29, 2025
Sep 29, 2025
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 119-68.
Apr 30
Apr 30, 2025
Apr 30, 2025
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Apr 10
Apr 10, 2025
Apr 10, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Read the bill text
Official text via Congress.gov. Opens in a new tab.
Full action log
All 11 recorded actions since introduction · Source: Congress.gov
Dec 10
HOUSEHeld at the desk.
Dec 10
HOUSEReceived in the House.
Dec 10
SENATEMessage on Senate action sent to the House.
Dec 9
SENATEPassed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8581; text: CR S8581)
Dec 9
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
Sep 29
SENATEPlaced on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 173.
Sep 29
SENATECommittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 119-68.
Sep 29
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 119-68.
Apr 30
SENATECommittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Apr 10
SENATERead twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Apr 10
Introduced in Senate
All 1 cosponsor
0 Democrats · 1 Republican
Republicans (1)
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