119th Congress · introduced in the House · Apr 2, 2025
ASCEND Act
Official title from Congress.gov
Latest action (Feb 24, 2026): Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 344.
View on Congress.govPolicy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Congressional Research Service summary, version: Introduced in House (Apr 2, 2025)
Accessing Satellite Capabilities to Enable New Discoveries Act or the ASCEND Act
This bill provides statutory authority for the Commercial SmallSat Data Acquisition (CSDA) program run by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Through the CSDA program, NASA acquires remote sensing data and imagery from commercial satellites to support its Earth science research. (Remote sensing generally refers to the collection of data by instruments in Earth’s orbit, such as satellites, that can be processed into imagery of Earth’s surface.)
Under the bill, NASA may establish or modify end-use agreements to allow for broad use of data and imagery acquired under the program, including by individuals outside of NASA (e.g., other federal agencies). The terms of any data or imagery acquisition may not prevent the publication of such data or imagery for scientific purposes or the publication of information derived from it. To the extent practicable, NASA must acquire such data and imagery from U.S. vendors.
Includes amendment, cloture, and procedural votes. Each is labeled with its exact question; only a passage question is a vote to pass the bill.
No recorded roll calls on this bill in coverage.
Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 344.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2242-2243)
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)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2600.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2242-2244)
Mr. Babin moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 428.
Reported by the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. H. Rept. 119-502.
Reported by the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. H. Rept. 119-502.
Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Actions from Congress.gov, newest first.
Congressional oversight · Earth sciences · Photography and imaging · Space flight and exploration · Spacecraft and satellites
LD-2 reports whose issue descriptions explicitly cite this bill (bill type and number validated against Congress.gov records). A citation does not establish the client's position or any contact with a member.
Loading lobbying reportsCoverage: reports for 2025 onward, posted Jan 1, 2025 through Oct 23, 2026.
18 citations.
PLANET LABS PBC · lobbying firm or registrant: PLANET LABS PBC
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 20, 2026 · issue area: Aerospace
$390,000
Spent on own lobbying
Regulation and licensing of commercial space activities; Wireless spectrum use for space activities; NASA programs; H.R. 2600, the ASCEND Act - all provisions related to satellite imagery; S. 1437, the ASCEND Act - all provisions related to satellite imagery; S. 933, NASA Transition A…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA INC · lobbying firm or registrant: AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, INC.
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · amended · posted Oct 20, 2026 · issue area: Aerospace
$240,000
Spent on own lobbying
…s and authorities, mission authorization, space systems as critical infrastructure, technician certification, and 5G. S.1982 SPACEPORT Act; S. 1898 ORBITs Act; H.R. 2600/S. 1437. ASCEND Act; H.R. 1154 - Space Infrastructure Act; S.428 SAFE Orbit Act; S.933 NASA Authorization Act; H.R. 7273 NASA Reauthorization Act; S.3639 Satel…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number matches Congress.gov records and the bill predates the report; no title was cited with it. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
VANTOR PARENT INC · lobbying firm or registrant: VANTOR PARENT INC
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 20, 2026 · issue area: Aerospace
$140,000
Spent on own lobbying
…ility in space - issues related to satellites, data, and analytics Issues related to spectrum policy H.R. 1325, Commercial Remote Sensing Amendment Act of 2025 H.R. 2600 and S. 1437, ASCEND Act S. 933, NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2025 H.R. 7273, NASA Reauthorization Act Regulatory Issues related to satellites, data, an…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
PLANET LABS PBC · lobbying firm or registrant: PLANET LABS PBC
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 20, 2026 · issue area: Aerospace
$400,000
Spent on own lobbying
Regulation and licensing of commercial space activities; Wireless spectrum use for space activities; NASA programs; H.R. 2600, the ASCEND Act - all provisions related to satellite imagery; S. 1437, the ASCEND Act - all provisions related to satellite imagery; S. 933, NASA Transition A…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
VANTOR PARENT INC · lobbying firm or registrant: VANTOR PARENT INC
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 18, 2026 · issue area: Aerospace
$160,000
Spent on own lobbying
…ility in space - issues related to satellites, data, and analytics Issues related to spectrum policy H.R. 1325, Commercial Remote Sensing Amendment Act of 2025 H.R. 2600 and S. 1437, ASCEND Act S. 933, NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2025 HR 7273, NASA Reauthorization Act Regulatory Issues related to satellites, data, and…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA INC · lobbying firm or registrant: AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, INC.
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 17, 2026 · issue area: Aerospace
$800,000
Spent on own lobbying
…s, mission authorization, space systems as critical infrastructure, sustainability, technician certification, and 5G. S.1982 SPACEPORT Act; S. 1898 ORBITs Act; H.R. 2600/S. 1437. ASCEND Act; H.R. 1154 - Space Infrastructure Act; S.428 SAFE Orbit Act; S. 2822 Space Ready Act; S.933 NASA Authorization Act; H.R. 7273 NASA Reauthor…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number matches Congress.gov records and the bill predates the report; no title was cited with it. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
VANTOR PARENT INC · lobbying firm or registrant: VANTOR PARENT INC
2026 Q1 report (Jan 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2026) · posted Apr 20, 2026 · issue area: Aerospace
$170,000
Spent on own lobbying
…ility in space - issues related to satellites, data, and analytics Issues related to spectrum policy H.R. 1325, Commercial Remote Sensing Amendment Act of 2025 H.R. 2600 and S. 1437, ASCEND Act S. 933, NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2025 HR 7273, NASA Reauthorization Act Regulatory Issues related to satellites, data, and…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
PLANET LABS PBC · lobbying firm or registrant: PLANET LABS PBC
2026 Q1 report (Jan 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2026) · posted Apr 20, 2026 · issue area: Aerospace
$450,000
Spent on own lobbying
Regulation and licensing of commercial space activities; Wireless spectrum use for space activities; NASA programs; H.R. 2600, the ASCEND Act - all provisions related to satellite imagery; S. 1437, the ASCEND Act - all provisions related to satellite imagery; S. 933, NASA Transition A…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA INC · lobbying firm or registrant: AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, INC.
2026 Q1 report (Jan 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2026) · posted Apr 15, 2026 · issue area: Aerospace
$640,000
Spent on own lobbying
…s, mission authorization, space systems as critical infrastructure, sustainability, technician certification, and 5G. S.1982 SPACEPORT Act; S. 1898 ORBITs Act; H.R. 2600/S. 1437. ASCEND Act; H.R. 1154 - Space Infrastructure Act; S.428 SAFE Orbit Act; S. 2822 Space Ready Act; S.933 NASA Authorization Act; H.R. 7273 NASA Reauthor…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number matches Congress.gov records and the bill predates the report; no title was cited with it. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA INC · lobbying firm or registrant: AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, INC.
2025 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2025) · amended · posted Jan 28, 2026 · issue area: Aerospace
$460,000
Spent on own lobbying
…ce programs and authorities, mission authorization, space systems as critical infrastructure, sustainability, and 5G. S.1982 SPACEPORT Act; S. 1898 ORBITs Act; H.R. 2600/S. 1437. ASCEND Act; H.R. 1154 - Space Infrastructure Act; S.428 SAFE Orbit Act; S.433 NASA Transition Authorization Act. S. 2822 Space Ready Act. S. 853 INNOV…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number matches Congress.gov records and the bill predates the report; no title was cited with it. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
PLANET LABS PBC · lobbying firm or registrant: PLANET LABS PBC
2025 Q4 report (Oct 1, 2025 – Dec 31, 2025) · posted Jan 20, 2026 · issue area: Aerospace
$420,000
Spent on own lobbying
Regulation and licensing of commercial space activities; Wireless spectrum use for space activities; NASA programs; H.R. 2600, the ASCEND Act - all provisions related to satellite imagery; S. 1437, the ASCEND Act - all provisions related to satellite imagery; S. 933, NASA Transition A…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
VANTOR PARENT INC · lobbying firm or registrant: VANTOR PARENT INC
2025 Q4 report (Oct 1, 2025 – Dec 31, 2025) · posted Jan 20, 2026 · issue area: Aerospace
$220,000
Spent on own lobbying
…related to satellites, data, and analytics Issues related to spectrum policy S. 428, SAFE Orbit Act H.R. 1325, Commercial Remote Sensing Amendment Act of 2025 H.R. 2600 and S. 1437, ASCEND Act S. 933, NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2025
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA INC · lobbying firm or registrant: AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, INC.
2025 Q4 report (Oct 1, 2025 – Dec 31, 2025) · posted Jan 20, 2026 · issue area: Aerospace
$540,000
Spent on own lobbying
…s, mission authorization, space systems as critical infrastructure, sustainability, technician certification, and 5G. S.1982 SPACEPORT Act; S. 1898 ORBITs Act; H.R. 2600/S. 1437. ASCEND Act; H.R. 1154 - Space Infrastructure Act; S.428 SAFE Orbit Act; S.433 NASA Transition Authorization Act. S. 2822 Space Ready Act. S. 853 INNOV…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number matches Congress.gov records and the bill predates the report; no title was cited with it. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
VANTOR PARENT INC · lobbying firm or registrant: VANTOR PARENT INC
2025 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2025) · posted Oct 20, 2025 · issue area: Aerospace
$230,000
Spent on own lobbying
…related to satellites, data, and analytics Issues related to spectrum policy S. 428, SAFE Orbit Act H.R. 1325, Commercial Remote Sensing Amendment Act of 2025 H.R. 2600 and S. 1437, ASCEND Act S. 933, NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2025 S. 1961, Launch Act
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
PLANET LABS PBC · lobbying firm or registrant: PLANET LABS PBC
2025 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2025) · posted Oct 20, 2025 · issue area: Aerospace
$190,000
Spent on own lobbying
Regulation and licensing of commercial space activities; Wireless spectrum use for space activities; NASA programs; H.R. 2600, the ASCEND Act - all provisions related to satellite imagery; S. 1437, the ASCEND Act - all provisions related to satellite imagery; S. 933, NASA Transition A…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
PLANET LABS PBC · lobbying firm or registrant: PLANET LABS PBC
2025 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2025 – Jun 30, 2025) · posted Jul 21, 2025 · issue area: Aerospace
$210,000
Spent on own lobbying
Regulation and licensing of commercial space activities; Wireless spectrum use for space activities; NASA programs; H.R. 2600 / S. 1437, the ASCEND Act - all provisions related to satellite imagery; S. 933, NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2025 - all provisions related to satellit…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
VANTOR PARENT INC · lobbying firm or registrant: VANTOR PARENT INC
2025 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2025 – Jun 30, 2025) · posted Jul 21, 2025 · issue area: Aerospace
$230,000
Spent on own lobbying
…-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 (Public Law No: 119-4) S.428, SAFE Orbit Act H.R.1325, Commercial Remote Sensing Amendment Act of 2025 H.R.2600 and S.1437, ASCEND Act S.933, NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2025 S.1961, Launch Act
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
VANTOR PARENT INC · lobbying firm or registrant: VANTOR PARENT INC
2025 Q1 report (Jan 1, 2025 – Mar 31, 2025) · posted Apr 18, 2025 · issue area: Aerospace
$160,000
Spent on own lobbying
…ear Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 (Public Law No: 119-4) S.428 - SAFE Orbit Act H.R.1325 - Commercial Remote Sensing Amendment Act of 2025 H.R.2600 - To require the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to establish a program to identify, evaluate, acquire, and disseminate comm…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing