and effective response to threats posed by space 
weather. 
‘‘(5) In October 2015, the National Science and 
Technology Council published a National Space 
Weather Strategy and a National Space Weather 
Action Plan seeking to integrate national space 
weather efforts and add new capabilities to meet in-
creasing demand for space weather information. 
‘‘(b) FEDERAL AGENCY ROLES.— 
‘‘(1) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that— 
‘‘(A) the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric 
Administration 
provides 
operational 
space weather forecasting and monitoring for 
civil applications, maintains ground and space- 
based assets to provide observations needed for 
forecasting, prediction, and warnings, provides 
research to support operational responsibilities, 
and develops requirements for space weather 
forecasting technologies and science; 
‘‘(B) the Department of Defense provides 
operational space weather forecasting, moni-
toring, and research for the department’s 
unique missions and applications; 
‘‘(C) the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration 
provides 
increased 
under-
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standing of the fundamental physics of the 
Sun-Earth system through space-based observa-
tions and modeling, develops new space-based 
technologies and missions, and monitors space 
weather for NASA’s space missions; 
‘‘(D) the National Science Foundation pro-
vides increased understanding of the Sun-Earth 
system through ground-based measurements, 
technologies, and modeling; 
‘‘(E) the Department of the Interior col-
lects, distributes, and archives operational 
ground-based magnetometer data in the United 
States and its territories, works with the inter-
national community to improve global geo-
physical monitoring, and develops crustal con-
ductivity models to assess and mitigate risk 
from space weather-induced electric ground cur-
rents; and 
‘‘(F) the Federal Aviation Administration 
provides operational requirements for space 
weather services in support of aviation and for 
coordination of these requirements with the 
International Civil Aviation Organization, inte-
grates space weather data and products into the 
Next Generation Air Transportation System, 
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and conducts real-time monitoring of the 
charged particle radiation environment to pro-
tect the health and safety of crew and pas-
sengers during space weather events. 
‘‘(2) OFFICE
OF
SCIENCE
AND
TECHNOLOGY 
POLICY.—The Director of the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy shall— 
‘‘(A) coordinate the development and im-
plementation of Federal Government activities 
to improve the Nation’s ability to prepare, 
avoid, mitigate, respond to, and recover from 
potentially devastating impacts of space weath-
er events; and 
‘‘(B) coordinate the activities of the space 
weather interagency working group established 
under subsection (c). 
‘‘(c) SPACE
WEATHER
INTERAGENCY
WORKING 
GROUP.—In order to continue coordination of executive 
branch efforts to understand, prepare, coordinate, and 
plan for space weather, the National Science and Tech-
nology Council shall establish an interagency working 
group on space weather. 
‘‘(d) MEMBERSHIP.—In order to understand and re-
spond to the adverse effects of space weather, the inter-
agency working group established under subsection (c) 
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shall leverage capabilities across participating Federal 
agencies, including— 
‘‘(1) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad-
ministration; 
‘‘(2) the National Aeronautics and Space Ad-
ministration; 
‘‘(3) the National Science Foundation; 
‘‘(4) the Department of Defense; 
‘‘(5) the Department of the Interior; 
‘‘(6) the Department of Homeland Security; 
‘‘(7) the Department of Energy; 
‘‘(8) the Department of Transportation, includ-
ing the Federal Aviation Administration; and 
‘‘(9) the Department of State. 
‘‘(e) INTERAGENCY AGREEMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of 
Congress that the interagency collaboration between 
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis-
tration on terrestrial weather observations pro-
vides— 
‘‘(A) an effective mechanism for improving 
weather and climate data collection while avoid-
ing unnecessary duplication of capabilities 
across Federal agencies; and 
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‘‘(B) an agency collaboration model that 
could benefit space weather observations. 
‘‘(2) INTERAGENCY
AGREEMENTS.—The Ad-
ministrator of the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration and the Administrator of the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall 
enter into one or more interagency agreements pro-
viding for cooperation and collaboration in the devel-
opment of space weather spacecraft, instruments, 
and technologies and in the transition of research to 
operations in accordance with this chapter. 
‘‘(f) INTERNATIONAL, COMMERCIAL, AND ACADEMIC 
COLLABORATION.—Participating Federal agencies in the 
space weather interagency working group established 
under subsection (c) shall, to the extent practicable and 
appropriate, increase engagement and cooperation with 
the international, commercial, and academic communities 
on the observational infrastructure, data, and scientific re-
search necessary to advance the characterization, pre-
diction, and mitigation of space weather events. 
‘‘§ 60702. Observations and forecasting 
‘‘(a) POLICY.—It is the policy of the United States 
to establish and sustain a baseline space and ground-based 
capability for space weather observations. 
‘‘(b) INTEGRATED STRATEGY.— 
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‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the Office 
of Science and Technology Policy, in coordination 
with the Administrator of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, the Administrator of 
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 
the Director of the National Science Foundation, 
and the Secretary of Defense, and in consultation 
with the academic and commercial communities, 
shall develop an integrated strategy for space and 
ground-based space weather observations, including 
solar and solar wind observations beyond the lifetime 
of current assets, that considers— 
‘‘(A) the provision of solar wind measure-
ments and other measurements essential to 
space weather forecasting; and 
‘‘(B) the provision of solar and space 
weather measurements important for scientific 
purposes. 
‘‘(2) 
CONSIDERATIONS.—In 
developing 
the 
strategy under paragraph (1), the Director of the 
Office of Science and Technology Policy shall con-
sider small satellite and microsatellite options, 
hosted payloads, commercial options, international 
options, and prize authority. 
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‘‘(c) CRITICAL OBSERVATIONS.—In order to sustain 
current space-based observational capabilities, the Admin-
istrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Adminis-
tration shall— 
‘‘(1) as appropriate, in cooperation with the 
European Space Agency, maintain operations of the 
Solar and Heliospheric Observatory/Large Angle and 
Spectrometric Coronagraph (referred to in this sec-
tion as ‘SOHO/LASCO’) for as long as the satellite 
continues to deliver quality observations; and 
‘‘(2) prioritize the reception of LASCO data. 
‘‘(d) ADDITIONAL CAPABILITY
FOR SOLAR IMAG-
ING.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
shall secure reliable secondary capability for near 
real-time coronal mass ejection imagery. 
‘‘(2) OPTIONS.—The Administrator of the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in 
coordination with the Secretary of Defense and the 
Administrator of the National Aeronautics and 
Space Administration, shall develop options, includ-
ing commercial solutions, to build and deploy one or 
more instruments for near real-time coronal mass 
ejection imagery. 
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‘‘(3) CONSIDERATIONS.—In developing options 
under paragraph (2), the Administrator of the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall 
consider commercial solutions, prize authority, aca-
demic and international partnerships, small satellites 
and microsatellites, ground-based instruments, and 
opportunities to deploy the instrument or instru-
ments as a secondary payload on an upcoming 
planned launch. 
‘‘(4) COSTS.—In implementing paragraph (1), 
the Administrator of the National Oceanic and At-
mospheric Administration shall consider a cost-effec-
tive and reliable solution. 
‘‘(5) OPERATIONAL PLANNING.—The Adminis-
trator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad-
ministration shall develop an operational contingency 
plan to provide continuous space weather forecasting 
in the event of a SOHO/LASCO failure. 
‘‘(6) BRIEFING.—Not later than 120 days after 
the date of enactment of the Space Weather Re-
search and Forecasting Act, the Administrator of 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra-
tion shall provide a briefing to the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Sen-
ate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Tech-
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nology of the House of Representatives on the op-
tions for building and deploying the instrument or 
instruments described in paragraph (2) and the 
operational contingency plan developed under para-
graph (5). 
‘‘(e) FOLLOW-ON SPACE-BASED OBSERVATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) PLAN.—The Administrator of the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in coordi-
nation with the Secretary of Defense, shall develop 
requirements and a plan for follow-on space-based 
observations for operational purposes, in accordance 
with the integrated strategy developed under sub-
section (b). 
‘‘(2) RESEARCH NEEDS.—In developing the re-
quirements and plan under paragraph (1), the Ad-
ministrator of the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration shall coordinate with the Na-
tional Aeronautics and Space Administration and 
the National Science Foundation regarding the re-
search necessary to improve space weather fore-
casting and the space-based observations that will 
advance research and development. 
‘‘(f) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of the Space Weather Research and 
Forecasting Act, the Director of the Office of Science and 
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Technology Policy shall submit to the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the 
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the 
House of Representatives a report on the integrated strat-
egy under subsection (b), including the Plan for follow- 
on space-based observations under subsection (e). 
‘‘(g) REVIEW OF INTEGRATED STRATEGY.— 
‘‘(1) REVIEW.—The Director of the National 
Science Foundation, in conjunction with Federal 
agencies participating in the space weather inter-
agency working group established under section 
60701(c), shall enter into an agreement with the 
National Academies to review the integrated strat-
egy developed under subsection (b). 
‘‘(2) TRANSMITTAL.—The Director of the Na-
tional Science Foundation shall transmit the results 
of the review required under paragraph (1) to the 
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Sen-
ate not later than 18 months after the enactment of 
the Space Weather Research and Forecasting Act. 
‘‘(h) GROUND-BASED
OBSERVATIONS.—The Na-
tional Science Foundation, the Air Force, and, where 
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practicable in support of the Air Force, the Navy shall 
each— 
‘‘(1) maintain and improve, as necessary and 
advisable, ground-based observations of the Sun in 
order to help meet the priorities identified in section 
60703(a); and 
‘‘(2) provide space weather data by means of its 
set of ground-based facilities, including radars, 
lidars, magnetometers, radio receivers, aurora and 
airglow imagers, spectrometers, interferometers, and 
solar observatories. 
‘‘(i) GROUND-BASED OBSERVATIONS DATA.—The 
National Science Foundation shall— 
‘‘(1) provide key data streams from the plat-
forms described in subsection (h) for research and to 
support space weather model development; 
‘‘(2) develop experimental models for scientific 
purposes; and 
‘‘(3) support the transition of the experimental 
models to operations where appropriate. 
‘‘§ 60703. Research and technology 
‘‘(a) USER NEEDS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
the Secretary of the Air Force, and where prac-
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ticable in support of the Air Force, the Secretary of 
the Navy, in conjunction with the Administrator of 
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
and the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, 
shall conduct a comprehensive survey to identify and 
prioritize the needs of space weather forecast users, 
including space weather data and space weather 
forecast data needed to improve services and inform 
research priorities and technology needs. 
‘‘(2) CONTENTS.—In conducting the com-
prehensive survey under paragraph (1), the Adminis-
trator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad-
ministration, the Secretary of the Air Force, and 
where practicable in support of the Air Force, the 
Secretary of the Navy, at a minimum, shall— 
‘‘(A) consider the goals for forecast lead 
time, accuracy, coverage, timeliness, data rate, 
and data quality for space weather observa-
tions; 
‘‘(B) identify opportunities to address the 
needs identified under paragraph (1) through 
collaborations with academia, the commercial 
sector, and the international community; 
‘‘(C) identify opportunities for new tech-
nologies, research, and instrumentation to ad-
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dress the needs identified under paragraph (1); 
and 
‘‘(D) publish a report on the findings 
under subparagraphs (A) through (C). 
‘‘(3) PUBLICATION.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of the Space Weather 
Research and Forecasting Act, the Administrator of 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra-
tion, the Secretary of the Air Force, and where prac-
ticable in support of the Air Force, the Secretary of 
the Navy, shall— 
‘‘(A) make the results of the comprehen-
sive survey publicly available; and 
‘‘(B) notify the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate and 
the Committee on Science, Space, and Tech-
nology of the House of Representatives of the 
publication under subparagraph (A). 
‘‘(b) RESEARCH ACTIVITIES.— 
‘‘(1) BASIC RESEARCH.—The Director of the 
National Science Foundation, Administrator of the 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and 
the Secretary of Defense shall continue to carry out 
basic research activities on heliophysics, geospace 
science, and space weather and support competitive, 
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merit-based, peer-reviewed proposals for research, 
modeling, and monitoring of space weather and its 
impacts, including science goals outlined in Solar 
and Space Physics Decadal surveys conducted by the 
National Academy of Sciences. 
‘‘(2) OTHER RESEARCH ACTIVITIES.—The Di-
rector of the National Science Foundation and the 
Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration shall support basic research 
activities in the social, behavioral, and economic 
sciences that will lead to improved national pre-
paredness and encourage mitigation and protection 
measures before a space weather event. 
‘‘(3) MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH.— 
‘‘(A) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that the 
multidisciplinary nature of solar and space 
physics creates funding challenges that require 
coordination across scientific disciplines and 
Federal agencies. 
‘‘(B) MULTIDISCIPLINARY
RESEARCH.— 
The Director of the National Science Founda-
tion, the Administrator of the National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration, and the Ad-
ministrator of the National Aeronautics and 
Space Administration shall pursue multidisci-
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plinary, coordinated research in subjects that 
further our understanding of solar physics, 
space physics, and space weather. 
‘‘(C) SENSE
OF
CONGRESS.—It is the 
sense of Congress that the Administrator of the 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
and Director of the National Science Founda-
tion should support competitively awarded 
Heliophysics Science Centers that support re-
search to operations and operations to research. 
‘‘(c) SCIENCE MISSIONS.—The Administrator of the 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall seek 
to implement missions that meet the science objectives 
identified in Solar and Space Physics Decadal surveys con-
ducted by the National Academy of Sciences. 
‘‘(d) RESEARCH TO OPERATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the 
Director of the National Science Foundation, the 
Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration, the Secretary of the Air 
Force, and where practicable in support of the Air 
Force, the Secretary of the Navy, shall— 
‘‘(A) develop a formal mechanism to tran-
sition National Aeronautics and Space Adminis-
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tration, National Science Foundation, Air 
Force, and Navy research findings, research 
needs, models, and capabilities, as appropriate, 
to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis-
tration and Department of Defense space 
weather operational forecasting centers; and 
‘‘(B) enhance coordination between re-
search modeling centers and forecasting cen-
ters. 
‘‘(2) OPERATIONAL
NEEDS.—The Adminis-
trator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad-
ministration and the Secretary of Defense, in coordi-
nation with the Administrator of the National Aero-
nautics and Space Administration and the Director 
of the National Science Foundation, shall develop a 
formal mechanism to communicate the operational 
needs of space weather forecasters to the research 
community. 
‘‘(e) TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT.— 
‘‘(1) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that observa-
tions and measurements closer to the Sun and ad-
vanced instrumentation would provide for more ad-
vanced warning of space weather disturbances (as 
defined in section 3 of the Space Weather Research 
and Forecasting Act). 
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‘‘(2) TECHNOLOGY AND INSTRUMENTATION DE-
VELOPMENT.—The Administrator of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Di-
rector of the National Science Foundation shall sup-
port the development of technologies and instrumen-
tation that address research priorities and improve 
space weather forecasting lead-time and accuracy to 
meet the needs identified by the Administrator of 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra-
tion. 
‘‘§ 60704. Space weather data 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Na-
tional Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Di-
rector of the National Science Foundation shall— 
‘‘(1) make space weather related data obtained 
for scientific research purposes available to space 
weather forecasters and operations centers; and 
‘‘(2) support model development and model ap-
plications to space weather forecasting. 
‘‘(b) RESEARCH.—The Administrator of the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall make space 
weather related data obtained from operational forecasting 
available for scientific research. 
‘‘(c) SPACE
WEATHER
GOVERNMENT-INDUSTRY- 
UNIVERSITY ROUNDTABLE.—The Administrator of the 
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National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in col-
laboration with the Administrator of the National Aero-
nautics and Space Administration and the Director of the 
National Science Foundation, shall enter into an arrange-
ment with the National Academies to establish a Space 
Weather Government-Industry-University Roundtable to 
facilitate communication and knowledge transfer among 
Government participants in the space weather interagency 
working group established under section 60701(c), indus-
try, and academia to— 
‘‘(1) facilitate advances in space weather pre-
diction and forecasting; 
‘‘(2) help enable the 2-way coordination of re-
search and operations; and 
‘‘(3) improve preparedness for potential space 
weather events.’’. 
(b) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) REPEAL OF SECTION 809.—Section 809 of 
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
Authorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 18388) and 
the item relating to that section in the table of con-
tents under section 1(b) of that Act (124 Stat. 
2806) are repealed. 
(2) TABLE OF CHAPTERS.—The table of chap-
ters of title 51, United States Code, is amended by 
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adding after the item relating to chapter 605 the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘607. Space weather ................................................................................ 60701’’. 
SEC. 3. SPACE WEATHER METRICS. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) SPACE WEATHER DISTURBANCE.—The term 
‘‘space weather disturbance’’ includes geo-electric 
fields, ionizing radiation, ionospheric disturbances, 
solar radio bursts, and upper atmospheric expansion. 
(2) SPACE WEATHER BENCHMARK.—The term 
‘‘space weather benchmark’’ means the physical 
characteristics and conditions describing the nature, 
frequency, and intensity of space weather disturb-
ances. 
(b) BENCHMARKS.— 
(1) PRELIMINARY.—Not later than 90 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the space 
weather interagency working group established 
under section 60701(c) of title 51, United States 
Code, in consultation with academic and commercial 
experts, shall— 
(A) assess existing data, the historical 
record, models, and peer-reviewed studies on 
space weather; and 
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(B) develop preliminary benchmarks, based 
on current scientific understanding and the his-
torical record, for measuring solar disturbances. 
(2) FINAL.—Not later than 18 months after 
the date the preliminary benchmarks are developed 
under paragraph (1), the space weather interagency 
working group shall publish final benchmarks. 
(3) REVIEW.—The Administrator of the Na-
tional Aeronautics and Space Administration shall 
contract with the National Academy of Sciences to 
review the benchmarks established under paragraph 
(2). 
(4) REVISIONS.—The space weather inter-
agency working group shall update and revise the 
final benchmarks under paragraph (2), as necessary, 
based on— 
(A) the results of the review under para-
graph (3); 
(B) any significant new data or advances 
in scientific understanding that become avail-
able; or 
(C) the evolving needs of entities impacted 
by solar disturbances. 
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SEC. 4. PROTECTION OF CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in con-
sultation with the heads of other relevant Federal agen-
cies, shall provide information about space weather haz-
ards to the Secretary of Homeland Security for purposes 
of this section. 
(b) CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE.—The Secretary of 
Homeland Security, in consultation with sector-specific 
agencies, the Administrator of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, and the heads of other rel-
evant agencies, shall— 
(1) include, in meeting national critical infra-
structure reporting requirements, an assessment of 
the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to space 
weather events, as described by the space weather 
benchmarks under section 3; and 
(2) support critical infrastructure providers in 
managing the risks and impacts associated with 
space weather. 
(c) PROHIBITION ON NEW REGULATORY AUTHOR-
ITY.—Nothing in subsection (b) may be construed to grant 
the Secretary of Homeland Security any authority to pro-
mulgate regulations that was not in effect on the day be-
fore the date of enactment of this Act. 
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(d) DEFINITION OF SECTOR-SPECIFIC AGENCY.—In 
this section, the term ‘‘sector-specific agency’’ has the 
meaning given the term in Presidential Policy Directive– 
21 of February 12, 2013 (Critical Infrastructure Security 
and Resilience), or any successor. 
SEC. 5. PROTECTION OF NATIONAL SECURITY ASSETS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The National Security Council, in 
consultation with the Office of the Director of National 
Intelligence, the Secretary of Defense, and the heads of 
other relevant Federal agencies, shall— 
(1) assess the vulnerability of the national secu-
rity community to space weather events, as described 
by the space weather benchmarks under section 3; 
and 
(2) develop national security mechanisms to 
protect national security assets from space weather 
threats. 
(b) COOPERATION.—The Secretary of Defense, in 
consultation with the heads of other relevant Federal 
agencies, shall provide information about space weather 
hazards to the National Security Council, Director of Na-
tional Intelligence, and heads of Defense Agencies for pur-
poses of this section. 
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SEC. 6. ENSURING THE SAFETY OF CIVIL AVIATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration, in consultation with the heads of 
other relevant Federal agencies, shall— 
(1) assess the safety implications and vulner-
ability of the national airspace system by space 
weather events, as described by the space weather 
benchmarks under section 3; 
(2) assess methods to mitigate the safety impli-
cations and effects of space weather on aviation 
communication systems, aircraft navigation systems, 
satellite and ground-based navigation systems, and 
potential health effects of radiation exposure; and 
(3) assess options for incorporating space 
weather into operational training for pilots, cabin 
crew, dispatchers, air traffic controllers, meteorolo-
gists, and engineers. 
(b) SPACE WEATHER COMMUNICATION.—The Ad-
ministrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, in 
consultation with the heads of other relevant Federal 
agencies, shall develop methods to increase the interaction 
between the aviation community and the space weather re-
search and service provider community. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:07 Jul 08, 2017
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