Space Weather Coordination Act

Bill: 115-s-141
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI]
Introduced: 2017-01-12
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Atmospheric science and weather

Aviation and airports

Executive agency funding and structure

Government information and archives

Infrastructure development

Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information

Military facilities and property

Research administration and funding

Spacecraft and satellites

Transportation safety and security
Latest action: action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 896.

Summaries:
action_date: 2017-01-12
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Space Weather Research and Forecasting Act</b></p> <p> This bill directs the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to:</p> <ul> <li>coordinate the development and implementation of federal government activities to improve the nation's ability to prepare, avoid, mitigate, respond to, and recover from potentially devastating impacts of space weather events; and </li> <li>coordinate the activities of the National Space Weather Program members.</li> </ul> <p>The National Science and Technology Council shall establish an interagency working group on space weather. </p> <p>The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shall secure reliable secondary capability for near real-time coronal mass ejection imagery.</p> <p>The National Science Foundation (NSF), the Air Force, and the Navy, where practicable in support of the Air Force, shall each:</p> <ul> <li>maintain and improve ground-based observations of the Sun; and </li> <li>provide space weather data by means of ground-based facilities, including solar observatories. </li> </ul> <p>NOAA, the Air Force, and the Navy, where practicable in support of the Air Force, shall conduct a survey to prioritize the needs of space weather forecast users.</p> <p> The NSF, NOAA, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) shall pursue multidisciplinary research in subjects that further our understanding of solar physics, space physics, and space weather. </p> <p>NASA shall seek to implement missions meeting science objectives identified in National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Solar and Space Physics Decadal surveys. </p> <p>NASA, the NSF, NOAA, the Air Force, and the Navy, where practicable in support of the Air Force, shall:</p> <ul> <li>develop a mechanism to transition NASA, NSF, Air Force, and Navy research findings, models, and capabilities to NOAA and the Department of Defense (DOD) space weather operational forecasting centers; and </li> <li>enhance coordination between research modeling centers and forecasting centers. </li> </ul> <p>NASA and the NSF shall:</p> <ul> <li>make space weather related data obtained for scientific research available to space weather forecasters and operations centers, and </li> <li>support model development and applications to space weather forecasting. </li> </ul> <p> The Space Weather Interagency Working Group shall develop benchmarks for measuring solar disturbances.</p> <p> NOAA shall inform the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) about space weather hazards to protect national critical infrastructure from space weather events. </p> <p>The National Security Council shall develop mechanisms to protect national security assets from space weather threats.</p> <p> The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) shall: </p> <ul> <li> assess the safety implications and vulnerability of the nation's airspace system by space weather events, and </li> <li>develop methods to increase the interaction between the aviation community and the space weather research and service provider community. </li> </ul>

action_date: 2017-03-30
action_desc: Reported to Senate with amendment(s)
text: <p><b>Space Weather Research and Forecasting Act</b></p> <p>(Sec. 2) This bill directs the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to:</p> <ul> <li>coordinate the development and implementation of federal government activities to improve the nation's ability to prepare, avoid, mitigate, respond to, and recover from potentially devastating impacts of space weather events; and </li> <li>coordinate the activities of the Space Weather Interagency Working Group, which shall be established by the National Science and Technology Council to continue coordination of executive branch efforts to understand, prepare, coordinate, and plan for space weather. </li> </ul> <p>In order to understand and respond to the adverse effects of space weather, the working group shall leverage capabilities across participating federal agencies. </p> <p>It is the sense of Congress that the interagency collaboration between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on terrestrial weather observations provides:</p> <ul> <li>an effective mechanism for improving weather and climate data collection while avoiding unnecessary duplication of capabilities across federal agencies, and </li> <li>an agency collaboration model that could benefit space weather observations. </li> </ul> <p>NASA and NOAA shall enter into at least one interagency agreement that provides for cooperation and collaboration in the development of space weather spacecraft, instruments, and technologies.</p> <p>It is U.S. policy to establish and sustain a baseline capability for space weather observations.</p> <p>The OSTP, in coordination with NOAA, NASA, the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the Department of Defense (DOD), shall develop an integrated strategy for solar and solar wind observations beyond the lifetime of current assets that considers the provision of:</p> <ul> <li>solar wind measurements and other measurements essential to space weather forecasting, and</li> <li>solar and space weather measurements important for scientific purposes. </li> </ul> <p>In developing such strategy, the OSTP shall consider small satellite options, hosted payloads, commercial options, international options, and prize authority. </p> <p>In order to sustain current space-based observational capabilities, NASA shall:</p> <ul> <li>in cooperation with the European Space Agency, maintain operations of the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory/Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (SOHO/LASCO) for as long as it continues to deliver quality observations, and </li> <li>prioritize the reception of LASCO data. </li> </ul> <p>NOAA shall secure reliable secondary capability for near real-time coronal mass ejection imagery. </p> <p>NOAA, in coordination with DOD and NASA, shall develop options to build and deploy one or more instruments for near real-time coronal mass ejection imagery.</p> <p>In developing such options, NOAA shall consider commercial solutions, prize authority, academic and international partnerships, microsatellites, ground-based instruments, and opportunities to deploy the instrument or instruments as a secondary payload on an upcoming planned launch. </p> <p>In securing reliable secondary capability for near real-time coronal mass ejection imagery, NOAA shall make it a priority to achieve a cost-effective solution.</p> <p>NOAA shall develop an operational contingency plan to provide continuous space weather forecasting in the event of a SOHO/LASCO failure.</p> <p>Within 120 days of the enactment of this bill, NOAA shall brief Congress on the options for building and deploying the instrument or instruments and the operational contingency plan. </p> <p>NOAA, in coordination with DOD, shall develop requirements and a plan for follow-on space-based observations for operational purposes. </p> <p>The OSTP shall report to Congress on the integrated strategy, including the plans for follow-on space-based observations. </p> <p>The NSF the Air Force, and where practicable in support of the Air Force, the Navy shall each:</p> <ul> <li>maintain and improve, as necessary and advisable, ground-based observations of the sun; and </li> <li>provide space weather data by means of ground-based facilities, including radars, lidars, magnetometers, radio receivers, aurora and airglow imagers, spectrometers, interferometers, and solar observatories. </li> </ul> <p>The NSF shall: </p> <ul> <li>provide key data streams from such platforms for research and to support space weather model development,</li> <li>develop experimental models for scientific purposes, and</li> <li>support the transition of such models to operations where appropriate. </li> </ul> <p>NOAA, the Air Force, and where practicable in support of the Air Force, the Navy, in conjunction with other relevant federal agencies, shall conduct a 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. </p> <p>NOAA, the Air Force, and where practicable in support of the Air Force, the Navy, shall: <ul> <li>make the survey's results publicly available; and</li> <li>notify Congress of making those results available to the public. </li> </ul> <p> The NSF, NASA, and DOD shall continue to carry out basic research activities on heliophysics, geospace science, and space weather and support competitive, 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 (NAS). </p> <p> The NSF, NOAA, and NASA shall pursue multidisciplinary research in subjects that further our understanding of solar physics, space physics, and space weather. </p> <p>It is the sense of Congress that NASA and the NSF should support competitively awarded Heliophysics Science Centers. </p> <p>NASA shall seek to implement missions meeting science objectives identified in NAS Solar and Space Physics Decadal surveys. </p> <p>NASA, the NSF, NOAA, and the Air Force, and where practicable in support of the Air Force, the Navy shall:</p> <ul> <li>develop a mechanism to transition NASA, NSF, Air Force, and Navy research findings, models, and capabilities to NOAA and DOD space weather operational forecasting centers; and </li> <li>enhance coordination between research modeling centers and forecasting centers. </li> </ul> <p>NOAA and DOD, in coordination with NASA and the NSF, shall develop a mechanism to communicate the operational needs of space weather forecasters to the research community. </p> <p>NASA and the NSF shall support the development of technologies and instrumentation to improve space weather forecasting lead-time and accuracy to meet needs identified by NOAA. </p> <p>NASA and the NSF shall:</p> <ul> <li>make space weather related data obtained for scientific research available to space weather forecasters and operations centers, and </li> <li>support model development and applications to space weather forecasting. </li> </ul> <p>NOAA shall make space weather related data obtained from operational forecasting available for scientific research. </p> <p>The provisions relating to space weather under the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 are repealed. </p> <p>(Sec. 3) The Space Weather Interagency Working Group shall: </p> <ul> <li>assess existing data, the historical record, models, and peer-reviewed studies on space weather; and </li> <li> develop preliminary benchmarks for measuring solar disturbances.</li> </ul> <p>Within 18 months of the development of the preliminary benchmarks, the working group shall publish final benchmarks and NASA shall contract with the NAS to review them. </p> <p>The working group shall update and revise the final benchmarks as necessary, based on:</p> <ul> <li>the results of the review by the NAS,</li> <li>any significant new data or advances in scientific understanding that become available, or </li> <li>the evolving needs of entities impacted by solar disturbances. </li> </ul> <p>(Sec. 4) NOAA shall inform the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) about space weather hazards to protect national critical infrastructure from space weather events. </p> <p>DHS shall:</p> <ul> <li>include, in meeting national critical infrastructure reporting requirements, an assessment of the vulnerability of such infrastructure to space weather events; and </li> <li>support critical infrastructure providers in managing the risks and impacts associated with space weather. </li> </ul> <p>(Sec. 5) The National Security Council shall: </p> <ul> <li>assess the vulnerability of the national security community to space weather events, and </li> <li> develop mechanisms to protect national security assets from space weather threats.</li> </ul> <p>DOD shall inform the National Security Council, the Director of National Intelligence, and the heads of the defense agencies about space weather hazards for purposes of the protection of those assets. </p> <p>(Sec. 6) The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) shall assess:</p> <ul> <li> the safety implications and vulnerability of the national airspace system by space weather events;</li> <li> methods to mitigate the safety implications 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</li> <li>options for incorporating space weather into operational training for pilots, cabin crews, dispatchers, air traffic controllers, meteorologists, and engineers.</li> </ul> <p>The FAA shall develop methods to increase the interaction between the aviation community and the space weather research and service provider community. </p>

action_date: 2017-05-02
action_desc: Passed Senate amended
text: <p>(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the Senate on March 30, 2017. The summary of that version is repeated here.)</p> <p><b>Space Weather Research and Forecasting Act</b></p> <p>(Sec. 2) This bill directs the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to:</p> <ul> <li>coordinate the development and implementation of federal government activities to improve the nation's ability to prepare, avoid, mitigate, respond to, and recover from potentially devastating impacts of space weather events; and </li> <li>coordinate the activities of the Space Weather Interagency Working Group, which shall be established by the National Science and Technology Council to continue coordination of executive branch efforts to understand, prepare, coordinate, and plan for space weather. </li> </ul> <p>In order to understand and respond to the adverse effects of space weather, the working group shall leverage capabilities across participating federal agencies. </p> <p>It is the sense of Congress that the interagency collaboration between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on terrestrial weather observations provides:</p> <ul> <li>an effective mechanism for improving weather and climate data collection while avoiding unnecessary duplication of capabilities across federal agencies, and </li> <li>an agency collaboration model that could benefit space weather observations. </li> </ul> <p>NASA and NOAA shall enter into at least one interagency agreement that provides for cooperation and collaboration in the development of space weather spacecraft, instruments, and technologies.</p> <p>It is U.S. policy to establish and sustain a baseline capability for space weather observations. </p> <p>The OSTP, in coordination with NOAA, NASA, the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the Department of Defense (DOD), shall develop an integrated strategy for solar and solar wind observations beyond the lifetime of current assets that considers the provision of:</p> <ul> <li>solar wind measurements and other measurements essential to space weather forecasting, and</li> <li>solar and space weather measurements important for scientific purposes. </li> </ul> <p>In developing such strategy, the OSTP shall consider small satellite options, hosted payloads, commercial options, international options, and prize authority. </p> <p>In order to sustain current space-based observational capabilities, NASA shall:</p> <ul> <li>in cooperation with the European Space Agency, maintain operations of the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory/Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (SOHO/LASCO) for as long as it continues to deliver quality observations, and </li> <li>prioritize the reception of LASCO data. </li> </ul> <p>NOAA shall secure reliable secondary capability for near real-time coronal mass ejection imagery. </p> <p>NOAA, in coordination with DOD and NASA, shall develop options to build and deploy one or more instruments for near real-time coronal mass ejection imagery.</p> <p>In developing such options, NOAA shall consider commercial solutions, prize authority, academic and international partnerships, microsatellites, ground-based instruments, and opportunities to deploy the instrument or instruments as a secondary payload on an upcoming planned launch. </p> <p>In securing reliable secondary capability for near real-time coronal mass ejection imagery, NOAA shall make it a priority to achieve a cost-effective solution. </p> <p>NOAA shall develop an operational contingency plan to provide continuous space weather forecasting in the event of a SOHO/LASCO failure. </p> <p>Within 120 days of the enactment of this bill, NOAA shall brief Congress on the options for building and deploying the instrument or instruments and the operational contingency plan. </p> <p>NOAA, in coordination with DOD, shall develop requirements and a plan for follow-on space-based observations for operational purposes. </p> <p>The OSTP shall report to Congress on the integrated strategy, including the plans for follow-on space-based observations. </p> <p>The NSF the Air Force, and where practicable in support of the Air Force, the Navy shall each:</p> <ul> <li>maintain and improve, as necessary and advisable, ground-based observations of the sun; and </li> <li>provide space weather data by means of ground-based facilities, including radars, lidars, magnetometers, radio receivers, aurora and airglow imagers, spectrometers, interferometers, and solar observatories. </li> </ul> <p>The NSF shall: </p> <ul> <li>provide key data streams from such platforms for research and to support space weather model development,</li> <li>develop experimental models for scientific purposes, and</li> <li>support the transition of such models to operations where appropriate. </li> </ul> <p>NOAA, the Air Force, and where practicable in support of the Air Force, the Navy, in conjunction with other relevant federal agencies, shall conduct a 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. </p> <p>NOAA, the Air Force, and where practicable in support of the Air Force, the Navy, shall: <ul> <li>make the survey's results publicly available; and</li> <li>notify Congress of making those results available to the public. </li> </ul> <p> The NSF, NASA, and DOD shall continue to carry out basic research activities on heliophysics, geospace science, and space weather and support competitive, 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 (NAS). </p> <p> The NSF, NOAA, and NASA shall pursue multidisciplinary research in subjects that further our understanding of solar physics, space physics, and space weather. </p> <p>It is the sense of Congress that NASA and the NSF should support competitively awarded Heliophysics Science Centers. </p> <p>NASA shall seek to implement missions meeting science objectives identified in NAS Solar and Space Physics Decadal surveys. </p> <p>NASA, the NSF, NOAA, and the Air Force, and where practicable in support of the Air Force, the Navy shall:</p> <ul> <li>develop a mechanism to transition NASA, NSF, Air Force, and Navy research findings, models, and capabilities to NOAA and DOD space weather operational forecasting centers; and </li> <li>enhance coordination between research modeling centers and forecasting centers. </li> </ul> <p>NOAA and DOD, in coordination with NASA and the NSF, shall develop a mechanism to communicate the operational needs of space weather forecasters to the research community. </p> <p>NASA and the NSF shall support the development of technologies and instrumentation to improve space weather forecasting lead-time and accuracy to meet needs identified by NOAA. </p> <p>NASA and the NSF shall:</p> <ul> <li>make space weather related data obtained for scientific research available to space weather forecasters and operations centers, and </li> <li>support model development and applications to space weather forecasting. </li> </ul> <p>NOAA shall make space weather related data obtained from operational forecasting available for scientific research. </p> <p>The provisions relating to space weather under the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 are repealed. </p> <p>(Sec. 3) The Space Weather Interagency Working Group shall: </p> <ul> <li>assess existing data, the historical record, models, and peer-reviewed studies on space weather; and </li> <li> develop preliminary benchmarks for measuring solar disturbances. </li> </ul> <p>Within 18 months of the development of the preliminary benchmarks, the working group shall publish final benchmarks and NASA shall contract with the NAS to review them. </p> <p>The working group shall update and revise the final benchmarks as necessary, based on:</p> <ul> <li>the results of the review by the NAS,</li> <li>any significant new data or advances in scientific understanding that become available, or </li> <li>the evolving needs of entities impacted by solar disturbances. </li> </ul> <p>(Sec. 4) NOAA shall inform the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) about space weather hazards to protect national critical infrastructure from space weather events. </p> <p>DHS shall:</p> <ul> <li>include, in meeting national critical infrastructure reporting requirements, an assessment of the vulnerability of such infrastructure to space weather events; and </li> <li>support critical infrastructure providers in managing the risks and impacts associated with space weather. </li> </ul> <p>(Sec. 5) The National Security Council shall: </p> <ul> <li>assess the vulnerability of the national security community to space weather events, and </li> <li> develop mechanisms to protect national security assets from space weather threats. </li> </ul> <p>DOD shall inform the National Security Council, the Director of National Intelligence, and the heads of the defense agencies about space weather hazards for purposes of the protection of those assets. </p> <p>(Sec. 6) The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) shall assess:</p> <ul> <li> the safety implications and vulnerability of the national airspace system by space weather events;</li> <li> methods to mitigate the safety implications 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</li> <li>options for incorporating space weather into operational training for pilots, cabin crews, dispatchers, air traffic controllers, meteorologists, and engineers. </li> </ul> <p>The FAA shall develop methods to increase the interaction between the aviation community and the space weather research and service provider community. </p>

tv_txt: II 115th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 141 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES January 12, 2017 Mr. Peters (for himself, Mr. Gardner , Mr. Booker , and Mr. Wicker ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation A BILL To improve understanding and forecasting of space weather events, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Space Weather Research and Forecasting Act . 2. Space weather (a) In general Subtitle VI of title 51, United States Code, is amended by adding after chapter 605 the following: 607 Space weather 60701. Space weather. 60702. Observations and forecasting. 60703. Research and technology. 60704. Space weather data. 60701. Space weather (a) Findings Congress makes the following findings: (1) Space weather events pose a significant threat to humans working in the space environment and to modern technological systems. (2) The effects of severe space weather events on the electric power grid, satellites and satellite communications and information, airline operations, astronauts living and working in space, and space-based position, navigation, and timing systems could have significant societal, economic, national security, and health impacts. (3) Earth and space observations provide crucial data necessary to predict and warn about space weather events. (4) Clear roles and accountability of Federal departments and agencies are critical for an efficient 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 increasing demand for space weather information. (b) Federal agency roles (1) Findings Congress finds that— (A) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 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, and develops requirements for space weather forecasting technologies and science; (B) the Department of Defense provides operational space weather forecasting, monitoring, and research for the department's unique missions and applications; (C) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration provides increased understanding of the fundamental physics of the Sun-Earth system through space-based observations and modeling, develops new space-based technologies and missions, and monitors space weather for NASA's space missions; (D) the National Science Foundation provides increased understanding of the Sun-Earth system through ground-based measurements, technologies, and modeling; (E) the Department of the Interior collects, distributes, and archives operational ground-based magnetometer data in the United States and its territories, and works with the international community to improve global geophysical monitoring and develops crustal conductivity models to assess and mitigate risk from space weather induced electric ground currents; 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, integrates space weather data and products into the Next Generation Air Transportation System, and conducts real-time monitoring of the charged particle radiation environment to protect the health and safety of crew and passengers 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 implementation of Federal Government activities to improve the Nation's ability to prepare, avoid, mitigate, respond to, and recover from potentially devastating impacts of space weather events; and (B) coordinate the activities of the National Space Weather Program members. (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 Technology Council shall establish an interagency working group on space weather that includes representatives of the Federal agencies participating in the National Space Weather Program, and of other Federal agencies, as appropriate. (d) National Space Weather Program In order to understand and respond to the adverse effects of space weather, the National Space Weather Program shall leverage capabilities across participating Federal agencies, including— (1) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; (2) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration; (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, including 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 Administration on terrestrial weather observations provides— (A) an effective mechanism for improving weather and climate data collection while avoiding unnecessary duplication of capabilities across Federal agencies; and (B) an agency collaboration model that could benefit space weather observations. (2) Interagency agreements The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall enter into one or more interagency agreements providing for cooperation and collaboration in the development of space weather spacecraft, instruments, and technologies in accordance with this chapter. 60702. Observations and forecasting (a) Policy It is the policy of the United States to establish and sustain a baseline capability for space weather observations. (b) Integrated strategy (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 solar and solar wind observations beyond the lifetime of current assets, that considers— (A) the provision of solar wind measurements 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 consider small satellite options, hosted payloads, commercial options, international options, and prize authority. (c) Critical observations In order to sustain current space-based observational capabilities, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall— (1) in cooperation with the European Space Agency, maintain operations of the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory/Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (referred to in this section 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 imaging (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 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense and the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, shall develop options to build and deploy one or more instruments for near real-time coronal mass ejection imagery. (3) Considerations In developing options under paragraph (2), the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall consider commercial solutions, prize authority, academic and international partnerships, microsatellites, ground-based instruments, and opportunities to deploy the instrument or instruments as a secondary payload on an upcoming planned launch. (4) Costs In implementing paragraph (1), the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall prioritize a cost-effective solution. (5) Operational planning The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 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 Research and Forecasting Act , the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall provide a briefing to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives on the options for building and deploying the instrument or instruments described in paragraph (2) and the operational contingency plan developed under paragraph (5). (e) Follow-On space-Based observations The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in coordination 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 subsection (b). (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 Technology Policy shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report on the integrated strategy under subsection (b), including the plans for follow-on space-based observations under subsection (e). (g) Ground-Based observations The National Science Foundation, the Air Force, and where 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. (h) Ground-Based observations data The National Science Foundation shall— (1) provide key data streams from the platforms described in subsection (g) 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 practicable in support of the Air Force, the Secretary of the Navy, in conjunction with 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 comprehensive survey under paragraph (1), the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 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 observations; (B) identify opportunities to address the needs identified under paragraph (1) through collaborations with academia, the private sector, and the international community; (C) identify opportunities for new technologies and instrumentation to address 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 Administration, the Secretary of the Air Force, and where practicable in support of the Air Force, the Secretary of the Navy, shall— (A) make the results of the comprehensive survey publicly available; and (B) notify the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives of the publication under subparagraph (A). (b) Research activities (1) Basic research As part of the National Space Weather Program, the Director of the National Science Foundation, Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and Secretary of Defense shall continue to carry out basic research activities on heliophysics, geospace science, and space weather and support competitive, 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) 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 As part of the National Space Weather Program, the Director of the National Science Foundation, the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall pursue multidisciplinary 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 Foundation should support competitively awarded Heliophysics Science Centers. (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 conducted 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 Atmospheric 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 transition National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Science Foundation, Air Force, and Navy research findings, models, and capabilities, as appropriate, to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Department of Defense space weather operational forecasting centers; and (B) enhance coordination between research modeling centers and forecasting centers. (2) Operational needs The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Administrator of the National Aeronautics 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 observations and measurements closer to the Sun and advanced instrumentation would provide for more advanced warning of space weather disturbances (as defined in section 3 of the Space Weather Research and Forecasting Act ). (2) Technology and instrumentation development The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Director of the National Science Foundation shall support the development of technologies and instrumentation to improve space weather forecasting lead-time and accuracy to meet the needs identified by the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 60704. Space weather data (a) In general The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Director 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 applications 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. . (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 contents under section 1(b) of that Act (124 Stat. 2806) are repealed. (2) Table of chapters The table of chapters of title 51, United States Code, is amended by adding after the item relating to chapter 605 the following: 607. Space weather 60701 . 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 disturbances. (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 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 (B) develop preliminary benchmarks, based on current scientific understanding and the historical 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 National 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 Interagency Working Group shall update and revise the final benchmarks under paragraph (2), as necessary, based on— (A) the results of the review under paragraph (3); (B) any significant new data or advances in scientific understanding that become available; or (C) the evolving needs of entities impacted by solar disturbances. 4. Protection of critical infrastructure (a) In general The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in consultation with the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, shall provide information about space weather hazards 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 relevant agencies, shall— (1) include, in meeting national critical infrastructure 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 authority Nothing in subsection (b) may be construed to grant the Secretary of Homeland Security any authority to promulgate regulations that was not in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act. (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. 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 security community to space weather events, as described by the space weather benchmarks under section 3; and (2) develop national security mechanisms to protection 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 National Intelligence, and heads of Defense Agencies for purposes of this section. 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 vulnerability 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 implications 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, meteorologists, and engineers. (b) Space weather communication The Administrator 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 research and service provider community.

tv_txt: II Calendar No. 29 115th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 141 [Report No. 115–21] IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES January 12, 2017 Mr. Peters (for himself, Mr. Gardner , Mr. Booker , Mr. Wicker , Ms. Klobuchar , and Mr. Nelson ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation March 30, 2017 Reported by Mr. Thune , with an amendment Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic A BILL To improve understanding and forecasting of space weather events, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Space Weather Research and Forecasting Act . 2. Space weather (a) In general Subtitle VI of title 51, United States Code, is amended by adding after chapter 605 the following: 607 Space weather 60701. Space weather. 60702. Observations and forecasting. 60703. Research and technology. 60704. Space weather data. 60701. Space weather (a) Findings Congress makes the following findings: (1) Space weather events pose a significant threat to humans working in the space environment and to modern technological systems. (2) The effects of severe space weather events on the electric power grid, satellites and satellite communications and information, airline operations, astronauts living and working in space, and space-based position, navigation, and timing systems could have significant societal, economic, national security, and health impacts. (3) Earth and space observations provide crucial data necessary to predict and warn about space weather events. (4) Clear roles and accountability of Federal departments and agencies are critical for an efficient 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 increasing demand for space weather information. (b) Federal agency roles (1) Findings Congress finds that— (A) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 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, and develops requirements for space weather forecasting technologies and science; (B) the Department of Defense provides operational space weather forecasting, monitoring, and research for the department's unique missions and applications; (C) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration provides increased understanding of the fundamental physics of the Sun-Earth system through space-based observations and modeling, develops new space-based technologies and missions, and monitors space weather for NASA's space missions; (D) the National Science Foundation provides increased understanding of the Sun-Earth system through ground-based measurements, technologies, and modeling; (E) the Department of the Interior collects, distributes, and archives operational ground-based magnetometer data in the United States and its territories, and works with the international community to improve global geophysical monitoring and develops crustal conductivity models to assess and mitigate risk from space weather induced electric ground currents; 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, integrates space weather data and products into the Next Generation Air Transportation System, and conducts real-time monitoring of the charged particle radiation environment to protect the health and safety of crew and passengers 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 implementation of Federal Government activities to improve the Nation's ability to prepare, avoid, mitigate, respond to, and recover from potentially devastating impacts of space weather events; and (B) coordinate the activities of the National Space Weather Program members. (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 Technology Council shall establish an interagency working group on space weather that includes representatives of the Federal agencies participating in the National Space Weather Program, and of other Federal agencies, as appropriate. (d) National Space Weather Program In order to understand and respond to the adverse effects of space weather, the National Space Weather Program shall leverage capabilities across participating Federal agencies, including— (1) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; (2) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration; (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, including 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 Administration on terrestrial weather observations provides— (A) an effective mechanism for improving weather and climate data collection while avoiding unnecessary duplication of capabilities across Federal agencies; and (B) an agency collaboration model that could benefit space weather observations. (2) Interagency agreements The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall enter into one or more interagency agreements providing for cooperation and collaboration in the development of space weather spacecraft, instruments, and technologies in accordance with this chapter. 60702. Observations and forecasting (a) Policy It is the policy of the United States to establish and sustain a baseline capability for space weather observations. (b) Integrated strategy (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 solar and solar wind observations beyond the lifetime of current assets, that considers— (A) the provision of solar wind measurements 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 consider small satellite options, hosted payloads, commercial options, international options, and prize authority. (c) Critical observations In order to sustain current space-based observational capabilities, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall— (1) in cooperation with the European Space Agency, maintain operations of the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory/Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (referred to in this section 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 imaging (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 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense and the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, shall develop options to build and deploy one or more instruments for near real-time coronal mass ejection imagery. (3) Considerations In developing options under paragraph (2), the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall consider commercial solutions, prize authority, academic and international partnerships, microsatellites, ground-based instruments, and opportunities to deploy the instrument or instruments as a secondary payload on an upcoming planned launch. (4) Costs In implementing paragraph (1), the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall prioritize a cost-effective solution. (5) Operational planning The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 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 Research and Forecasting Act , the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall provide a briefing to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives on the options for building and deploying the instrument or instruments described in paragraph (2) and the operational contingency plan developed under paragraph (5). (e) Follow-On space-Based observations The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in coordination 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 subsection (b). (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 Technology Policy shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report on the integrated strategy under subsection (b), including the plans for follow-on space-based observations under subsection (e). (g) Ground-Based observations The National Science Foundation, the Air Force, and where 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. (h) Ground-Based observations data The National Science Foundation shall— (1) provide key data streams from the platforms described in subsection (g) 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 practicable in support of the Air Force, the Secretary of the Navy, in conjunction with 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 comprehensive survey under paragraph (1), the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 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 observations; (B) identify opportunities to address the needs identified under paragraph (1) through collaborations with academia, the private sector, and the international community; (C) identify opportunities for new technologies and instrumentation to address 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 Administration, the Secretary of the Air Force, and where practicable in support of the Air Force, the Secretary of the Navy, shall— (A) make the results of the comprehensive survey publicly available; and (B) notify the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives of the publication under subparagraph (A). (b) Research activities (1) Basic research As part of the National Space Weather Program, the Director of the National Science Foundation, Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and Secretary of Defense shall continue to carry out basic research activities on heliophysics, geospace science, and space weather and support competitive, 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) 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 As part of the National Space Weather Program, the Director of the National Science Foundation, the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall pursue multidisciplinary 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 Foundation should support competitively awarded Heliophysics Science Centers. (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 conducted 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 Atmospheric 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 transition National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Science Foundation, Air Force, and Navy research findings, models, and capabilities, as appropriate, to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Department of Defense space weather operational forecasting centers; and (B) enhance coordination between research modeling centers and forecasting centers. (2) Operational needs The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Administrator of the National Aeronautics 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 observations and measurements closer to the Sun and advanced instrumentation would provide for more advanced warning of space weather disturbances (as defined in section 3 of the Space Weather Research and Forecasting Act ). (2) Technology and instrumentation development The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Director of the National Science Foundation shall support the development of technologies and instrumentation to improve space weather forecasting lead-time and accuracy to meet the needs identified by the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 60704. Space weather data (a) In general The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Director 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 applications 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. . (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 contents under section 1(b) of that Act (124 Stat. 2806) are repealed. (2) Table of chapters The table of chapters of title 51, United States Code, is amended by adding after the item relating to chapter 605 the following: 607. Space weather 60701 . 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 disturbances. (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 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 (B) develop preliminary benchmarks, based on current scientific understanding and the historical 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 National 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 Interagency Working Group shall update and revise the final benchmarks under paragraph (2), as necessary, based on— (A) the results of the review under paragraph (3); (B) any significant new data or advances in scientific understanding that become available; or (C) the evolving needs of entities impacted by solar disturbances. 4. Protection of critical infrastructure (a) In general The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in consultation with the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, shall provide information about space weather hazards 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 relevant agencies, shall— (1) include, in meeting national critical infrastructure 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 authority Nothing in subsection (b) may be construed to grant the Secretary of Homeland Security any authority to promulgate regulations that was not in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act. (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. 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 security community to space weather events, as described by the space weather benchmarks under section 3; and (2) develop national security mechanisms to protection 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 National Intelligence, and heads of Defense Agencies for purposes of this section. 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 vulnerability 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 implications 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, meteorologists, and engineers. (b) Space weather communication The Administrator 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 research and service provider community.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Space Weather Research and Forecasting Act . 2. Space weather (a) In general Subtitle VI of title 51, United States Code, is amended by adding after chapter 605 the following: 607 Space weather 60701. Space weather. 60702. Observations and forecasting. 60703. Research and technology. 60704. Space weather data. 60701. Space weather (a) Findings Congress makes the following findings: (1) Space weather events pose a significant threat to humans working in the space environment and to modern technological systems. (2) The effects of severe space weather events on the electric power grid, satellites and satellite communications and information, airline operations, astronauts living and working in space, and space-based position, navigation, and timing systems could have significant societal, economic, national security, and health impacts. (3) Earth and space observations provide crucial data necessary to predict and warn about space weather events. (4) Clear roles and accountability of Federal departments and agencies are critical for an efficient 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 increasing demand for space weather information. (b) Federal agency roles (1) Findings Congress finds that— (A) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 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, and develops requirements for space weather forecasting technologies and science; (B) the Department of Defense provides operational space weather forecasting, monitoring, and research for the department's unique missions and applications; (C) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration provides increased understanding of the fundamental physics of the Sun-Earth system through space-based observations and modeling, develops new space-based technologies and missions, and monitors space weather for NASA's space missions; (D) the National Science Foundation provides increased understanding of the Sun-Earth system through ground-based measurements, technologies, and modeling; (E) the Department of the Interior collects, distributes, and archives operational ground-based magnetometer data in the United States and its territories, and works with the international community to improve global geophysical monitoring and develops crustal conductivity models to assess and mitigate risk from space weather induced electric ground currents; 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, integrates space weather data and products into the Next Generation Air Transportation System, and conducts real-time monitoring of the charged particle radiation environment to protect the health and safety of crew and passengers 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 implementation of Federal Government activities to improve the Nation's ability to prepare, avoid, mitigate, respond to, and recover from potentially devastating impacts of space weather 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 Technology Council shall establish an interagency working group on space weather. (d) Membership In order to understand and respond to the adverse effects of space weather, the interagency working group established under subsection (c) shall leverage capabilities across participating Federal agencies, including— (1) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; (2) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration; (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, including 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 Administration on terrestrial weather observations provides— (A) an effective mechanism for improving weather and climate data collection while avoiding unnecessary duplication of capabilities across Federal agencies; and (B) an agency collaboration model that could benefit space weather observations. (2) Interagency agreements The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall enter into one or more interagency agreements providing for cooperation and collaboration in the development of space weather spacecraft, instruments, and technologies in accordance with this chapter. 60702. Observations and forecasting (a) Policy It is the policy of the United States to establish and sustain a baseline capability for space weather observations. (b) Integrated strategy (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 solar and solar wind observations beyond the lifetime of current assets, that considers— (A) the provision of solar wind measurements 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 consider small satellite options, hosted payloads, commercial options, international options, and prize authority. (c) Critical observations In order to sustain current space-based observational capabilities, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall— (1) in cooperation with the European Space Agency, maintain operations of the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory/Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (referred to in this section 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 imaging (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 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense and the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, shall develop options to build and deploy one or more instruments for near real-time coronal mass ejection imagery. (3) Considerations In developing options under paragraph (2), the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall consider commercial solutions, prize authority, academic and international partnerships, microsatellites, ground-based instruments, and opportunities to deploy the instrument or instruments as a secondary payload on an upcoming planned launch. (4) Costs In implementing paragraph (1), the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall prioritize a cost-effective solution. (5) Operational planning The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 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 Research and Forecasting Act , the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall provide a briefing to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives on the options for building and deploying the instrument or instruments described in paragraph (2) and the operational contingency plan developed under paragraph (5). (e) Follow-On space-Based observations The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in coordination 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 subsection (b). (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 Technology Policy shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report on the integrated strategy under subsection (b), including the plans for follow-on space-based observations under subsection (e). (g) Ground-Based observations The National Science Foundation, the Air Force, and where 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. (h) Ground-Based observations data The National Science Foundation shall— (1) provide key data streams from the platforms described in subsection (g) 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 practicable in support of the Air Force, the Secretary of the Navy, in conjunction with 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 comprehensive survey under paragraph (1), the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 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 observations; (B) identify opportunities to address the needs identified under paragraph (1) through collaborations with academia, the private sector, and the international community; (C) identify opportunities for new technologies and instrumentation to address 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 Administration, the Secretary of the Air Force, and where practicable in support of the Air Force, the Secretary of the Navy, shall— (A) make the results of the comprehensive survey publicly available; and (B) notify the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 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 Secretary of Defense shall continue to carry out basic research activities on heliophysics, geospace science, and space weather and support competitive, 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) 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 Foundation, the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall pursue multidisciplinary 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 Foundation should support competitively awarded Heliophysics Science Centers. (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 conducted 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 Atmospheric 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 transition National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Science Foundation, Air Force, and Navy research findings, models, and capabilities, as appropriate, to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Department of Defense space weather operational forecasting centers; and (B) enhance coordination between research modeling centers and forecasting centers. (2) Operational needs The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Administrator of the National Aeronautics 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 observations and measurements closer to the Sun and advanced instrumentation would provide for more advanced warning of space weather disturbances (as defined in section 3 of the Space Weather Research and Forecasting Act ). (2) Technology and instrumentation development The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Director of the National Science Foundation shall support the development of technologies and instrumentation to improve space weather forecasting lead-time and accuracy to meet the needs identified by the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 60704. Space weather data (a) In general The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Director 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 applications 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. . (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 contents under section 1(b) of that Act (124 Stat. 2806) are repealed. (2) Table of chapters The table of chapters of title 51, United States Code, is amended by adding after the item relating to chapter 605 the following: 607. Space weather 60701 . 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 disturbances. (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 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 (B) develop preliminary benchmarks, based on current scientific understanding and the historical 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 National 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 Interagency Working Group shall update and revise the final benchmarks under paragraph (2), as necessary, based on— (A) the results of the review under paragraph (3); (B) any significant new data or advances in scientific understanding that become available; or (C) the evolving needs of entities impacted by solar disturbances. 4. Protection of critical infrastructure (a) In general The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in consultation with the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, shall provide information about space weather hazards 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 relevant agencies, shall— (1) include, in meeting national critical infrastructure 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 authority Nothing in subsection (b) may be construed to grant the Secretary of Homeland Security any authority to promulgate regulations that was not in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act. (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. 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 security community to space weather events, as described by the space weather benchmarks under section 3; and (2) develop national security mechanisms to protection 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 National Intelligence, and heads of Defense Agencies for purposes of this section. 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 vulnerability 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 implications 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, meteorologists, and engineers. (b) Space weather communication The Administrator 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 research and service provider community.

March 30, 2017 Reported with an amendment

tv_txt: 115th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 141 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES AN ACT To improve understanding and forecasting of space weather events, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Space Weather Research and Forecasting Act . 2. Space weather (a) In general Subtitle VI of title 51, United States Code, is amended by adding after chapter 605 the following: 607 Space weather 60701. Space weather. 60702. Observations and forecasting. 60703. Research and technology. 60704. Space weather data. 60701. Space weather (a) Findings Congress makes the following findings: (1) Space weather events pose a significant threat to humans working in the space environment and to modern technological systems. (2) The effects of severe space weather events on the electric power grid, satellites and satellite communications and information, airline operations, astronauts living and working in space, and space-based position, navigation, and timing systems could have significant societal, economic, national security, and health impacts. (3) Earth and space observations provide crucial data necessary to predict and warn about space weather events. (4) Clear roles and accountability of Federal departments and agencies are critical for an efficient 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 increasing demand for space weather information. (b) Federal agency roles (1) Findings Congress finds that— (A) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 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, and develops requirements for space weather forecasting technologies and science; (B) the Department of Defense provides operational space weather forecasting, monitoring, and research for the department's unique missions and applications; (C) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration provides increased understanding of the fundamental physics of the Sun-Earth system through space-based observations and modeling, develops new space-based technologies and missions, and monitors space weather for NASA's space missions; (D) the National Science Foundation provides increased understanding of the Sun-Earth system through ground-based measurements, technologies, and modeling; (E) the Department of the Interior collects, distributes, and archives operational ground-based magnetometer data in the United States and its territories, and works with the international community to improve global geophysical monitoring and develops crustal conductivity models to assess and mitigate risk from space weather induced electric ground currents; 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, integrates space weather data and products into the Next Generation Air Transportation System, and conducts real-time monitoring of the charged particle radiation environment to protect the health and safety of crew and passengers 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 implementation of Federal Government activities to improve the Nation's ability to prepare, avoid, mitigate, respond to, and recover from potentially devastating impacts of space weather 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 Technology Council shall establish an interagency working group on space weather. (d) Membership In order to understand and respond to the adverse effects of space weather, the interagency working group established under subsection (c) shall leverage capabilities across participating Federal agencies, including— (1) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; (2) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration; (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, including 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 Administration on terrestrial weather observations provides— (A) an effective mechanism for improving weather and climate data collection while avoiding unnecessary duplication of capabilities across Federal agencies; and (B) an agency collaboration model that could benefit space weather observations. (2) Interagency agreements The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall enter into one or more interagency agreements providing for cooperation and collaboration in the development of space weather spacecraft, instruments, and technologies in accordance with this chapter. 60702. Observations and forecasting (a) Policy It is the policy of the United States to establish and sustain a baseline capability for space weather observations. (b) Integrated strategy (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 solar and solar wind observations beyond the lifetime of current assets, that considers— (A) the provision of solar wind measurements 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 consider small satellite options, hosted payloads, commercial options, international options, and prize authority. (c) Critical observations In order to sustain current space-based observational capabilities, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall— (1) in cooperation with the European Space Agency, maintain operations of the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory/Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (referred to in this section 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 imaging (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 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense and the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, shall develop options to build and deploy one or more instruments for near real-time coronal mass ejection imagery. (3) Considerations In developing options under paragraph (2), the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall consider commercial solutions, prize authority, academic and international partnerships, microsatellites, ground-based instruments, and opportunities to deploy the instrument or instruments as a secondary payload on an upcoming planned launch. (4) Costs In implementing paragraph (1), the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall prioritize a cost-effective solution. (5) Operational planning The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 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 Research and Forecasting Act , the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall provide a briefing to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives on the options for building and deploying the instrument or instruments described in paragraph (2) and the operational contingency plan developed under paragraph (5). (e) Follow-On space-Based observations The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in coordination 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 subsection (b). (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 Technology Policy shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report on the integrated strategy under subsection (b), including the plans for follow-on space-based observations under subsection (e). (g) Ground-Based observations The National Science Foundation, the Air Force, and where 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. (h) Ground-Based observations data The National Science Foundation shall— (1) provide key data streams from the platforms described in subsection (g) 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 practicable in support of the Air Force, the Secretary of the Navy, in conjunction with 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 comprehensive survey under paragraph (1), the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 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 observations; (B) identify opportunities to address the needs identified under paragraph (1) through collaborations with academia, the private sector, and the international community; (C) identify opportunities for new technologies and instrumentation to address 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 Administration, the Secretary of the Air Force, and where practicable in support of the Air Force, the Secretary of the Navy, shall— (A) make the results of the comprehensive survey publicly available; and (B) notify the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 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 Secretary of Defense shall continue to carry out basic research activities on heliophysics, geospace science, and space weather and support competitive, 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) 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 Foundation, the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall pursue multidisciplinary 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 Foundation should support competitively awarded Heliophysics Science Centers. (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 conducted 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 Atmospheric 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 transition National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Science Foundation, Air Force, and Navy research findings, models, and capabilities, as appropriate, to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Department of Defense space weather operational forecasting centers; and (B) enhance coordination between research modeling centers and forecasting centers. (2) Operational needs The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Administrator of the National Aeronautics 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 observations and measurements closer to the Sun and advanced instrumentation would provide for more advanced warning of space weather disturbances (as defined in section 3 of the Space Weather Research and Forecasting Act ). (2) Technology and instrumentation development The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Director of the National Science Foundation shall support the development of technologies and instrumentation to improve space weather forecasting lead-time and accuracy to meet the needs identified by the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 60704. Space weather data (a) In general The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Director 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 applications 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. . (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 contents under section 1(b) of that Act (124 Stat. 2806) are repealed. (2) Table of chapters The table of chapters of title 51, United States Code, is amended by adding after the item relating to chapter 605 the following: 607. Space weather 60701 . 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 disturbances. (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 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 (B) develop preliminary benchmarks, based on current scientific understanding and the historical 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 National 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 Interagency Working Group shall update and revise the final benchmarks under paragraph (2), as necessary, based on— (A) the results of the review under paragraph (3); (B) any significant new data or advances in scientific understanding that become available; or (C) the evolving needs of entities impacted by solar disturbances. 4. Protection of critical infrastructure (a) In general The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in consultation with the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, shall provide information about space weather hazards 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 relevant agencies, shall— (1) include, in meeting national critical infrastructure 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 authority Nothing in subsection (b) may be construed to grant the Secretary of Homeland Security any authority to promulgate regulations that was not in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act. (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. 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 security community to space weather events, as described by the space weather benchmarks under section 3; and (2) develop national security mechanisms to protection 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 National Intelligence, and heads of Defense Agencies for purposes of this section. 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 vulnerability 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 implications 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, meteorologists, and engineers. (b) Space weather communication The Administrator 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 research and service provider community.

Passed the Senate May 2, 2017. Secretary

tv_txt: IC 115th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 141 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 3, 2017 Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology , and in addition to the Committees on Armed Services , Transportation and Infrastructure , Foreign Affairs , and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned AN ACT To improve understanding and forecasting of space weather events, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Space Weather Research and Forecasting Act . 2. Space weather (a) In general Subtitle VI of title 51, United States Code, is amended by adding after chapter 605 the following: 607 Space weather 60701. Space weather. 60702. Observations and forecasting. 60703. Research and technology. 60704. Space weather data. 60701. Space weather (a) Findings Congress makes the following findings: (1) Space weather events pose a significant threat to humans working in the space environment and to modern technological systems. (2) The effects of severe space weather events on the electric power grid, satellites and satellite communications and information, airline operations, astronauts living and working in space, and space-based position, navigation, and timing systems could have significant societal, economic, national security, and health impacts. (3) Earth and space observations provide crucial data necessary to predict and warn about space weather events. (4) Clear roles and accountability of Federal departments and agencies are critical for an efficient 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 increasing demand for space weather information. (b) Federal agency roles (1) Findings Congress finds that— (A) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 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, and develops requirements for space weather forecasting technologies and science; (B) the Department of Defense provides operational space weather forecasting, monitoring, and research for the department's unique missions and applications; (C) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration provides increased understanding of the fundamental physics of the Sun-Earth system through space-based observations and modeling, develops new space-based technologies and missions, and monitors space weather for NASA's space missions; (D) the National Science Foundation provides increased understanding of the Sun-Earth system through ground-based measurements, technologies, and modeling; (E) the Department of the Interior collects, distributes, and archives operational ground-based magnetometer data in the United States and its territories, and works with the international community to improve global geophysical monitoring and develops crustal conductivity models to assess and mitigate risk from space weather induced electric ground currents; 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, integrates space weather data and products into the Next Generation Air Transportation System, and conducts real-time monitoring of the charged particle radiation environment to protect the health and safety of crew and passengers 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 implementation of Federal Government activities to improve the Nation's ability to prepare, avoid, mitigate, respond to, and recover from potentially devastating impacts of space weather 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 Technology Council shall establish an interagency working group on space weather. (d) Membership In order to understand and respond to the adverse effects of space weather, the interagency working group established under subsection (c) shall leverage capabilities across participating Federal agencies, including— (1) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; (2) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration; (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, including 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 Administration on terrestrial weather observations provides— (A) an effective mechanism for improving weather and climate data collection while avoiding unnecessary duplication of capabilities across Federal agencies; and (B) an agency collaboration model that could benefit space weather observations. (2) Interagency agreements The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall enter into one or more interagency agreements providing for cooperation and collaboration in the development of space weather spacecraft, instruments, and technologies in accordance with this chapter. 60702. Observations and forecasting (a) Policy It is the policy of the United States to establish and sustain a baseline capability for space weather observations. (b) Integrated strategy (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 solar and solar wind observations beyond the lifetime of current assets, that considers— (A) the provision of solar wind measurements 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 consider small satellite options, hosted payloads, commercial options, international options, and prize authority. (c) Critical observations In order to sustain current space-based observational capabilities, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall— (1) in cooperation with the European Space Agency, maintain operations of the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory/Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (referred to in this section 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 imaging (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 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense and the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, shall develop options to build and deploy one or more instruments for near real-time coronal mass ejection imagery. (3) Considerations In developing options under paragraph (2), the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall consider commercial solutions, prize authority, academic and international partnerships, microsatellites, ground-based instruments, and opportunities to deploy the instrument or instruments as a secondary payload on an upcoming planned launch. (4) Costs In implementing paragraph (1), the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall prioritize a cost-effective solution. (5) Operational planning The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 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 Research and Forecasting Act , the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall provide a briefing to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives on the options for building and deploying the instrument or instruments described in paragraph (2) and the operational contingency plan developed under paragraph (5). (e) Follow-On space-Based observations The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in coordination 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 subsection (b). (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 Technology Policy shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report on the integrated strategy under subsection (b), including the plans for follow-on space-based observations under subsection (e). (g) Ground-Based observations The National Science Foundation, the Air Force, and where 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. (h) Ground-Based observations data The National Science Foundation shall— (1) provide key data streams from the platforms described in subsection (g) 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 practicable in support of the Air Force, the Secretary of the Navy, in conjunction with 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 comprehensive survey under paragraph (1), the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 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 observations; (B) identify opportunities to address the needs identified under paragraph (1) through collaborations with academia, the private sector, and the international community; (C) identify opportunities for new technologies and instrumentation to address 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 Administration, the Secretary of the Air Force, and where practicable in support of the Air Force, the Secretary of the Navy, shall— (A) make the results of the comprehensive survey publicly available; and (B) notify the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 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 Secretary of Defense shall continue to carry out basic research activities on heliophysics, geospace science, and space weather and support competitive, 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) 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 Foundation, the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall pursue multidisciplinary 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 Foundation should support competitively awarded Heliophysics Science Centers. (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 conducted 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 Atmospheric 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 transition National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Science Foundation, Air Force, and Navy research findings, models, and capabilities, as appropriate, to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Department of Defense space weather operational forecasting centers; and (B) enhance coordination between research modeling centers and forecasting centers. (2) Operational needs The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Administrator of the National Aeronautics 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 observations and measurements closer to the Sun and advanced instrumentation would provide for more advanced warning of space weather disturbances (as defined in section 3 of the Space Weather Research and Forecasting Act ). (2) Technology and instrumentation development The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Director of the National Science Foundation shall support the development of technologies and instrumentation to improve space weather forecasting lead-time and accuracy to meet the needs identified by the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 60704. Space weather data (a) In general The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Director 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 applications 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. . (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 contents under section 1(b) of that Act (124 Stat. 2806) are repealed. (2) Table of chapters The table of chapters of title 51, United States Code, is amended by adding after the item relating to chapter 605 the following: 607. Space weather 60701 . 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 disturbances. (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 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 (B) develop preliminary benchmarks, based on current scientific understanding and the historical 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 National 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 Interagency Working Group shall update and revise the final benchmarks under paragraph (2), as necessary, based on— (A) the results of the review under paragraph (3); (B) any significant new data or advances in scientific understanding that become available; or (C) the evolving needs of entities impacted by solar disturbances. 4. Protection of critical infrastructure (a) In general The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in consultation with the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, shall provide information about space weather hazards 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 relevant agencies, shall— (1) include, in meeting national critical infrastructure 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 authority Nothing in subsection (b) may be construed to grant the Secretary of Homeland Security any authority to promulgate regulations that was not in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act. (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. 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 security community to space weather events, as described by the space weather benchmarks under section 3; and (2) develop national security mechanisms to protection 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 National Intelligence, and heads of Defense Agencies for purposes of this section. 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 vulnerability 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 implications 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, meteorologists, and engineers. (b) Space weather communication The Administrator 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 research and service provider community.

Passed the Senate May 2, 2017. Julie E. Adams, Secretary

tv_txt: ID Union Calendar No. 896 115th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 141 [Report No. 115–1128, Part I] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 3, 2017 Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology , and in addition to the Committees on Armed Services , Transportation and Infrastructure , Foreign Affairs , and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned January 3, 2019 Reported from the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology with amendments Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic January 3, 2019 Committees on Armed Services , Transportation and Infrastructure , Foreign Affairs , and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence discharged; committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed For text of Senate passed bill, see copy of bill as printed in the House of Representatives on May 3, 2017 AN ACT To improve understanding and forecasting of space weather events, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Space Weather Coordination Act . 2. Space weather (a) In general Subtitle VI of title 51, United States Code, is amended by adding after chapter 605 the following: 606 Space Weather Sec. 60601. Space weather findings; policy. 60602. Space weather coordination. 60603. Space weather priorities, plan, and research roadmap. 60604. Space weather reports. 60605. Pilot program for obtaining commercial sector space weather data. 60606. Definitions. 60601. Space weather findings; policy (a) Findings Congress finds the following: (1) Space weather events pose a significant threat to humans working in the space environment, to modern technological systems, and critical terrestrial infrastructure. (2) The effects of severe space weather events on the electric power grid, satellites and satellite communications, services, orbits and information, airline operations, astronauts living and working in space, and space based position, navigation, and timing systems could have significant societal, economic, national security, and health impacts. (3) Space weather observation and forecasting are essential for the success of deep space exploration. (4) Earth and space observations provide crucial data necessary to predict and warn about space weather events. (5) Clear roles and accountability of Federal departments and agencies are critical for an efficient and effective response to threats posed by space weather. (6) Observations and measurements closer to the sun and advanced instrumentation would provide for more advanced warning of solar activity resulting in space weather activity. (7) Coordination and collaboration between Federal departments and agencies, international partners, the academic community, and the commercial sector is necessary to improve the Nation’s ability to understand, prepare for, avoid, mitigate, and respond to severe space weather events. (8) The commercial sector should be solicited to support and enable Federal space weather activities and encouraged to provide and separately invest in innovative space weather data and services. (b) Statement of national policy It is the policy of the United States that— (1) the United States should establish and maintain baseline capabilities for space weather observation and forecasting to protect civil aviation, space transportation, national security, human life, critical infrastructure, commercial enterprise, and economic vitality in the United States; (2) the establishment and maintenance of such baseline capabilities for space weather should, to the extent practicable, leverage the space weather observation capabilities, data, and services of the academic community and commercial sector; (3) space weather observation and forecasting are not exclusive functions of the Federal Government; and (4) the Federal Government should, as practicable, obtain space weather data and services through contracts with the commercial sector, when the data and services are available, cost-effective, and add value. 60602. Space weather coordination (a) Sense of Congress (1) National space council It is the sense of Congress that— (A) members of the National Space Council are key stakeholders of the Federal Government with respect to space weather; (B) the Users’ Advisory Group of the National Space Council should effectively and efficiently represent and advocate on behalf of nongovernmental organizations and the academic community within the Nation’s space weather enterprise; and (C) the National Space Council is the appropriate Federal entity to review, establish, and coordinate the Nation’s space weather priorities. (2) Office of science and technology policy It is the sense of Congress that the Office of Science and Technology Policy— (A) efficiently and effectively identifies opportunities and avenues to advance the leadership of the United States in science and technology; and (B) is well positioned to identify opportunities for advancement in coordination of space weather research-to-operations and operations-to-research. (b) Coordinating authority The National Space Council shall oversee efforts and activities of the Federal Government— (1) to implement the Nation’s space weather priorities; and (2) to prepare for, avoid, mitigate, and respond to space weather events. (c) National committee for space weather observation and forecasting (1) Establishment In order to address the Nation’s space weather priorities and further coordinate efforts to monitor, prepare for, avoid, mitigate, and respond to space weather events, the President shall, in consultation with the Chair of the National Space Council — (A) establish a committee with respect to space weather observation and forecasting to be known as the National Committee for Space Weather Observation and Forecasting (in this chapter referred to as the National Committee ); and (B) establish one advisory committee for the purpose specified in paragraph (3)(B), the composition of which shall be determined by the Co-Chairs of the National Committee and shall include equal representation from the academic community, commercial sector, and space weather end users. (2) National Committee composition The National Committee shall— (A) be co-chaired by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Commerce, or their designated representatives, provided that such designated representatives are of the Under Secretary or Assistant Secretary level or higher; (B) include as permanent voting members all Federal departments or agencies determined to be key space weather stakeholders or otherwise necessary for inclusion as such permanent voting members by the President, with the agreement of the Chair of the National Space Council; and (C) be empowered, with the approval of the Chair of the National Space Council, to allow a relevant, non-member Federal department or agency to participate in meetings of the National Committee as either a non-permanent observer or semi-permanent liaison to the National Committee. (3) Duties (A) National Committee The duties of the National Committee are the following: (i) To effectively and efficiently promote coordination between Federal agencies, the academic community, and the commercial sector to advance the Nation’s space enterprise. (ii) To coordinate the implementation of the national space weather plan developed under section 60603(b) across the Federal Government, in partnership with the academic community, international partners, and the commercial sector. (iii) To collaborate with the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy to identify opportunities for the academic community and commercial sectors to advance the understanding of space weather. (B) Advisory committees The duty of the advisory committee established pursuant to paragraph (1)(B) shall be to advise the National Committee with respect to— (i) the development and implementation of the national space weather plan established under section 60603(b); and (ii) the capabilities of the academic community and the commercial sector to meet the national space weather priorities identified under section 60603(a). (d) User survey (1) In general The Chair of the National Space Council, in consultation with the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, the academic community, and the commercial sector, shall direct the Users’ Advisory Group of the Council to conduct a comprehensive survey to identify the space weather observation, research, modeling, forecasting, and prediction needs of the space weather user community. (2) Survey considerations The survey conducted under paragraph (1) shall— (A) assess the adequacy of current Federal Government goals for lead time, accuracy, coverage, timeliness, data rate, and data quality for space weather observations and forecasting; (B) identify options and methods to, in consultation with the academic community and the commercial sector, improve the goals specified in subparagraph (A); (C) identify opportunities for the generation of new data to address the needs of the space weather user community; (D) identify methods to increase coordination of, with respect to space weather, research-to-operations and operations-to-research; (E) identify the most efficient and effective formal mechanism or mechanisms for the sharing of space weather data, operational forecasting needs, research needs, findings, models, and capabilities between the Federal Government, the academic community, the commercial sector, and the space weather user community; (F) identify opportunities for new technologies, research, and instrumentation to aid in research, understanding, monitoring, modeling, prediction, and forecasting of space weather; and (G) identify methods and technologies to improve preparedness for potential space weather events. (e) Special authority In order to better understand space weather, the National Space Council may leverage expertise from any Federal agency or partner, as deemed appropriate by the Chair of the National Space Council, including through the use of— (1) interagency agreements; (2) memoranda of understanding; and (3) shared personnel. 60603. Space weather priorities, plan, and research roadmap (a) National space weather priorities The National Space Council, in consultation with the Users’ Advisory Group of the National Space Council, the academic community, and the commercial sector, shall establish national priorities for space weather, with respect to— (1) the protection of life and property; (2) the support of the leadership, economic development, and national security of the United States; and (3) the space weather prediction and forecasting needs of end-users. (b) National space weather plan The National Committee shall develop a national space weather plan to implement the priorities established under subsection (a). Such plan shall, with respect to activities carried out to meet such priorities— (1) delineate appropriate roles among Federal agencies; (2) consider small satellite options, hosted payloads, public-private partnerships, and commercial options such as data-buys, and other acquisition approaches, that maximize Federal investment and minimize overall costs to the Federal Government; (3) identify knowledge gaps and their resolution through specific research and development activities to improve operational space weather forecasting; (4) describe collaborative opportunities with stakeholders, including the academic community, nongovernmental organizations, the commercial sector, and foreign governments; (5) leverage the work conducted through the National Space Weather Strategy and National Space Weather Action Plan of the National Science and Technology Council before the date of the enactment of this section; (6) include a formal mechanism to share operational needs of space weather forecasters with Federal agencies engaged in space weather research and development activities, the academic community, and the commercial sector; and (7) appropriately prioritize the critical land-based, sea-based, air-based, or space-based observation capabilities. (c) National space weather research roadmap The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall issue a national space weather research roadmap that— (1) considers the national space weather priorities established under subsection (a) ; (2) considers the national space weather plan issued under subsection (b); (3) considers the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s decadal survey recommendations; (4) includes a formal mechanism that provides for the sharing of the research needs, findings, models, and capabilities with space weather operational forecasting centers; and (5) enhances coordination between research modeling centers, forecasting centers, and the commercial sector. 60604. Space weather reports (a) Survey and priorities Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of the Space Weather Coordination Act, the Chair of the National Space Council shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, a report on— (1) the findings of the user survey under section 60602(d); and (2) the recommended space weather priorities under section 60603(a) . (b) National space weather plan Not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of the Space Weather Coordination Act, the Chair of the National Space Council shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the national space weather plan developed under section 60603(b). (c) National space weather research roadmap Not later than one year after the date of enactment of the Space Weather Coordination Act, the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the national space weather research roadmap issued under section 60603(c). (d) Revaluation of content Not later than one year after the date on which each Presidential term begins, as well as when determined to be necessary by the Chair of the National Space Council during the intervening years, the applicable entities shall review and assess the content previously developed under this section and update and resubmit such content when appropriate. 60605. Pilot program for obtaining commercial sector space weather data (a) Pilot program (1) Establishment Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of the Space Weather Coordination Act , the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere (in this section referred to as the Secretary ), shall establish a pilot program under which the Secretary will offer to enter into contracts with one or more entities in the commercial sector for the provision to the Secretary of space weather data generated by such an entity that meets the standards and specifications published under paragraph (2). (2) Data standards and specifications Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of the Space Weather Coordination Act , the Secretary shall publish standards and specifications for ground-based, ocean-based, air-based, and space-based commercial space weather data and metadata. (3) Contracts (A) In general Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of the Space Weather Coordination Act , the Secretary shall offer to enter, through an open competition, into at least one contract with one or more commercial sector entities capable of providing space weather data that— (i) meets the standards and specifications established by the Secretary for providing such data; and (ii) is provided in a manner that allows the Secretary to calibrate and evaluate the data for use in space weather research and forecasting models of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (B) Assessment Not later than the date that is 3 years after the date on which the Secretary enters into a contract under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall assess, and submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report on, the extent to which data provided under such contract meet the standards and specifications established under paragraph (1) and the extent to which the pilot program has demonstrated— (i) the viability of assimilating the commercially provided data into National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration space weather research and forecasting models; (ii) whether, and by how much, the data so provided add value to space weather forecasts of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and (iii) the accuracy, quality, timeliness, validity, reliability, usability, information technology security, and cost-effectiveness of obtaining commercial space weather data from commercial sector providers. (4) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $6,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2022, to remain available until expended. (b) Data and hosted satellite payloads Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary may enter into agreements for— (1) the purchase of space weather data through contracts with commercial providers; and (2) the placement of space weather satellite instruments on payloads co-hosted by the Federal Government and the commercial sector. (c) Obtaining future data If an assessment under subsection (a)(3)(B) demonstrates the ability of commercial space weather data to meet data and metadata standards and specifications published under subsection (a)(2), the Secretary shall— (1) where appropriate, cost-effective, and feasible, obtain space weather data from commercial sector providers; (2) as early as possible in the acquisition process for any future National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration space weather observational capability, consider whether a suitable, cost-effective, commercial capability is or will be available to meet the observational requirements by the planned operational date of the system; (3) if a suitable, cost-effective, commercial capability is or will be available as described in paragraph (2), determine whether it is in the national interest to develop a governmental observational capability; and (4) submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report detailing any determination made under paragraph (2) or (3). (d) Data sharing practices (1) In general The Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, leverage United States leadership in space weather observation and forecasting to incentivize international partners to increase their space weather observational and forecasting capabilities and contribute additional space weather observations, data, models, predictions, and forecasts. The Under Secretary shall continue to meet international data sharing agreements entered into prior to the date of enactment of this Act. (2) NASA and NSF data The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Director of the National Science Foundation shall each make space weather related data obtained for scientific research purposes available to space weather forecasters, operations centers, and the commercial sector and support model development and model applications for space weather forecasting. (3) NOAA data The Secretary shall work with the academic community to make space weather related data obtained from operational forecasting available for scientific research. (e) Research for Improved Space Weather Forecasting The Secretary, the Director of the National Science Foundation, and the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall support basic and applied research which could improve space weather forecasting lead time and accuracy. 60606. Definitions In this chapter: (1) National Space Council The term National Space Council means the National Space Council established under Executive Order 13803, (82 Fed. Reg. 31429, relating to establishment of National Space Council) or any successor entities as determined by the President. . (b) Technical and conforming amendments (1) Conforming repeal 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 contents under section 1(b) of that Act (124 Stat. 2806) are repealed. (2) Table of chapters The table of chapters of title 51, United States Code, is amended by adding after the item relating to chapter 605 the following: 606. Space Weather 60601 .

Amend the title so as to read: An Act to improve understanding and forecasting of space weather and promote coordination between stakeholders, and for other purposes. .

January 3, 2019 Reported from the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology with amendments January 3, 2019 Committees on Armed Services , Transportation and Infrastructure , Foreign Affairs , and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence discharged; committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed