119th Congress · introduced in the Senate · Apr 10, 2025
ASCEND Act
Official title from Congress.gov
Latest action (Dec 10, 2025): Held at the desk.
View on Congress.govPolicy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Congressional Research Service summary, version: Passed Senate (Dec 9, 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.
Held at the desk.
Received in the House.
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8581; text: CR S8581)
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 173.
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.
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.
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Introduced in Senate
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.
23 citations.
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANIES · lobbying firm or registrant: NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANIES
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 21, 2026 · issue area: Insurance
$520,000
Spent on own lobbying
…s who leave the program to purchase a private insurance flood policy to return to the National Flood Insurance Program without penalty, and for other purposes. S.1437 - A bill to require the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to establish a program to identify, evaluate, acquire, and dissemina…
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
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 20, 2026 · issue area: Aerospace
$390,000
Spent on own lobbying
…ommercial 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 Authorization Act of 2025 - all provisions related to satellite imagery;…
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
…orities, 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 Satellite and…
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
…- 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, and analytics
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
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANIES · lobbying firm or registrant: NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANIES
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 20, 2026 · issue area: Insurance
$540,000
Spent on own lobbying
…s who leave the program to purchase a private insurance flood policy to return to the National Flood Insurance Program without penalty, and for other purposes. S.1437 - A bill to require the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to establish a program to identify, evaluate, acquire, and dissemina…
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
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 20, 2026 · issue area: Aerospace
$400,000
Spent on own lobbying
…ommercial 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 Authorization Act of 2025 - all provisions related to satellite imagery;…
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
…- 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 analytics
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
…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 Reauthorization…
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
…- 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 analytics
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
…ommercial 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 Authorization Act of 2025 - all provisions related to satellite imagery;…
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
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANIES · lobbying firm or registrant: NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANIES
2026 Q1 report (Jan 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2026) · posted Apr 20, 2026 · issue area: Insurance
$506,440
Spent on own lobbying
…s who leave the program to purchase a private insurance flood policy to return to the National Flood Insurance Program without penalty, and for other purposes. S.1437 - A bill to require the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to establish a program to identify, evaluate, acquire, and dissemina…
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.
2026 Q1 report (Jan 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2026) · posted Apr 15, 2026 · issue area: Aerospace
$640,000
Spent on own lobbying
…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 Reauthorization…
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
…s 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 INNOVATE Act.
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
…ommercial 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 Authorization Act of 2025 - all provisions related to satellite imagery;…
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
…tellites, 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
…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 INNOVATE Act.
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
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANIES · lobbying firm or registrant: NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANIES
2025 Q4 report (Oct 1, 2025 – Dec 31, 2025) · posted Jan 16, 2026 · issue area: Insurance
$465,758
Spent on own lobbying
…s who leave the program to purchase a private insurance flood policy to return to the National Flood Insurance Program without penalty, and for other purposes. S.1437 - A bill to require the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to establish a program to identify, evaluate, acquire, and dissemina…
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
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANIES · lobbying firm or registrant: NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANIES
2025 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2025) · posted Oct 21, 2025 · issue area: Insurance
$442,147
Spent on own lobbying
…s who leave the program to purchase a private insurance flood policy to return to the National Flood Insurance Program without penalty, and for other purposes. S.1437 - A bill to require the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to establish a program to identify, evaluate, acquire, and dissemina…
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
…tellites, 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
…ommercial 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 Authorization Act of 2025 - all provisions related to satellite imagery;…
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
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANIES · lobbying firm or registrant: NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANIES
2025 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2025 – Jun 30, 2025) · posted Jul 21, 2025 · issue area: Insurance
$435,663
Spent on own lobbying
…s who leave the program to purchase a private insurance flood policy to return to the National Flood Insurance Program without penalty, and for other purposes. S.1437 - A bill to require the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to establish a program to identify, evaluate, acquire, and dissemina…
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 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 satellite imagery;…
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
…ing 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