The record

LegislationLegislation· Feb 2026
HR 2600 Passed House — in Senate

Sponsored by Jeff Hurd (R)

ASCEND Act

Gives NASA authority to buy and share commercial satellite Earth imagery for research.

Tradeoff

Enables NASA to acquire satellite data from private companies and share it broadly with federal agencies and researchers. Requires preference for U.S. vendors where practicable.

What's in it

See official bill text

Less than $500,000 in federal spending over 2025-2030 for reporting and administration.

The $500,000 is just the federal cost to administer and report on NASA's data acquisition program — the bill's primary impact is establishing legal requirements for how NASA acquires and shares commercial satellite imagery, with minimal federal expense.

H.R. 2600, ASCEND Act · Aug 2025

Passed the House by on February 23, 2026 — sitting in the Senate.

  1. House

    Introduced

    (Apr 2, 2025)

  2. House

    Committee on Science, Space, and Technology(Apr 2, 2025)

  3. House

    The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology voted to send it to the floor

    Reported by (Apr 29, 2025)

    Committee report H. Rept. 119-502.

  4. House

    Passage of the bill

    Passed by (Feb 23, 2026)

    No individual votes were recorded.

  5. Senate

    Received from the House

    Received(Feb 24, 2026)