[Pages H4455-H4463]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
PROMOTING RESEARCH AND OBSERVATIONS OF SPACE WEATHER TO IMPROVE THE
FORECASTING OF TOMORROW ACT
Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass
the bill (S. 881) to improve understanding and forecasting of space
weather events, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
S. 881
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Promoting Research and
Observations of Space Weather to Improve the Forecasting of
Tomorrow Act'' or the ``PROSWIFT Act''.
SEC. 2. SPACE WEATHER.
(a) Policy.--It shall be the policy of the United States to
prepare and protect against the social and economic impacts
of space weather phenomena by supporting actions to improve
space weather forecasts and predictions including: sustaining
and enhancing critical observations, identifying research
needs and promoting opportunities for research-to-operations
and operations-to-research collaborations both within and
outside of the Federal Government, advancing space weather
models, engaging with all sectors of the space weather
community, including academia, the commercial sector, and
international partners, and understanding the needs of space
weather end users.
(b) Amendment to Title 51, United States Code.--Subtitle VI
of title 51, United States Code, is amended by adding after
chapter 605 the following:
``CHAPTER 606--SPACE WEATHER
``Sec.
``60601. Space weather.
``60602. Integrated strategy.
``60603. Sustaining and advancing critical space weather observations.
``60604. Research activities.
``60605. Space weather data.
``60606. Space weather knowledge transfer and information exchange.
``60607. Pilot program for obtaining commercial sector space weather
data.
``60608. Space weather benchmarks.
``Sec. 60601. Space weather
``(a) Findings.--
``(1) Space weather.--Congress makes the following findings
with respect to space weather:
``(A) Space weather phenomena pose a significant threat to
ground-based and space-based critical infrastructure, modern
technological systems, and humans working in space.
``(B) The effects of severe space weather on the electric
power grid, satellites and satellite communications and
information, aviation 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.
``(C) Space-based and ground-based observations provide
crucial data necessary to understand, forecast, and prepare
for space weather phenomena.
``(D) Clear roles and accountability of Federal departments
and agencies are critical for efficient and effective
response to threats posed by space weather.
``(E) Space weather observation and forecasting are
essential for the success of human and robotic space
exploration.
``(F) 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.
``(G) In March 2019, the National Science and Technology
Council published an updated National Space Weather Strategy
and Action Plan to enhance the preparedness and resilience of
the United States to space weather.
``(2) Role of federal agencies.--Congress makes the
following findings with respect to the role of Federal
agencies on space weather:
``(A) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
provides operational space weather monitoring, forecasting,
and long-term data archiving and access for civil
applications, maintains ground-based and space-based assets
to provide observations needed for space weather forecasting,
prediction, and warnings, provides research to support
operational responsibilities, and develops requirements for
space weather forecasting technologies and science.
``(B) The Department of Defense provides operational space
weather research, monitoring, and forecasting 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 basic research, space-based
observations and modeling, developing new space-based
technologies and missions, and monitoring of space weather
for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration'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, works with the
international community to improve global geophysical
monitoring, and develops crustal conductivity models to
assess and mitigate risks from space weather-induced electric
ground currents.
``(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, and integrates space weather data and products
into the Next Generation Air Transportation System.
``(b) Coordination by Office of Science and Technology
Policy.--The Director of the Office of Science and Technology
Policy shall--
``(1) coordinate the development and implementation of
Federal Government activities conducted with respect to space
weather to improve the ability of the United States to
prepare for, avoid, mitigate, respond to, and recover from
potentially devastating impacts of space weather; and
``(2) coordinate the activities of the interagency working
group on space weather established under subsection (c).
``(c) Space Weather Interagency Working Group.--Not later
than 90 days after the date of enactment of the PROSWIFT Act,
the National Science and Technology Council shall establish
an interagency working group on space weather (in this
chapter referred to as the `interagency working group') to
coordinate executive branch actions that improve the
understanding and prediction of and preparation for space
weather phenomena, and coordinate Federal space weather
activities.
``(1) Membership.--The following entities shall be members
of the interagency working group:
``(A) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
``(B) The National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
``(C) The National Science Foundation.
``(D) The Department of Defense.
``(E) The Department of the Interior.
``(F) Such other Federal agencies as the Director of the
Office of Science and Technology Policy deems appropriate.
``(2) Interagency agreements.--
``(A) The members of the interagency working group may
enter into one or more interagency agreements providing for
cooperation and collaboration in the development of space
weather spacecraft, instruments, technologies, and research
to operations and operations to research in accordance with
this chapter.
``(B) 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.
``(3) International, academic community, and commercial
sector collaboration.--Each Federal agency participating in
the space weather interagency working group established under
this subsection shall, to the extent practicable, increase
engagement and cooperation with the international community,
academic community, and commercial space weather sector on
the observational infrastructure, data, and scientific
research necessary to advance the monitoring, forecasting,
and prediction of, preparation for, and protection from,
space weather phenomena.
``(d) Space Weather Advisory Group.--
``(1) In general.--
``(A) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the
date of the enactment of the PROSWIFT Act, the Administrator
of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in
consultation with other relevant Federal agencies, shall
establish a space weather advisory group (in this chapter
referred to as the `advisory group') for the purposes of
receiving advice from the academic
[[Page H4456]]
community, the commercial space weather sector, and space
weather end users that informs the interests and work of the
interagency working group.
``(B) Composition.--The advisory group shall be composed of
not more than 15 members appointed by the interagency working
group, of whom--
``(i) 5 members shall be representatives of the academic
community;
``(ii) 5 members shall be representatives of the commercial
space weather sector; and
``(iii) 5 members shall be nongovernmental representatives
of the space weather end user community.
``(C) Chair.--Not later than 30 days after the date on
which the last member of the advisory group is appointed
under subparagraph (B), the Administrator of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall appoint 1 member
as the Chair of the advisory group.
``(D) Terms.--The length of the term of each member of the
advisory group shall be 3 years beginning on the date on
which the member is appointed.
``(E) Term limits.--
``(i) In general.--A member of the advisory group may not
serve on the advisory group for more than 2 consecutive
terms.
``(ii) Chair.--A member of the advisory group may not serve
as the Chair of the advisory group for more than 2 terms,
regardless of whether the terms are consecutive.
``(2) Duties.--The advisory group shall advise the
interagency working group on the following:
``(A) Facilitating advances in the space weather enterprise
of the United States.
``(B) Improving the ability of the United States to prepare
for, mitigate, respond to, and recover from space weather
phenomena.
``(C) Enabling the coordination and facilitation of
research to operations and operations to research, as
described in section 60604(d).
``(D) Developing and implementing the integrated strategy
under section 60602 including subsequent updates and
reevaluations.
``(3) User survey.--
``(A) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the
establishment of the advisory group, the advisory group shall
conduct a comprehensive survey of the needs of users of space
weather products to identify the space weather research,
observations, forecasting, prediction, and modeling advances
required to improve space weather products.
``(B) Survey considerations.--The survey conducted under
subparagraph (A) shall--
``(i) 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;
``(ii) identify options and methods to, in consultation
with the academic community and the commercial space weather
sector, improve upon the advancement of the goals described
in clause (i);
``(iii) identify opportunities for collection of new data
to address the needs of the space weather user community;
``(iv) identify methods to increase coordination of space
weather research to operations and operations to research;
``(v) identify opportunities for new technologies,
research, and instrumentation to aid in research,
understanding, monitoring, modeling, prediction, forecasting,
and warning of space weather; and
``(vi) identify methods and technologies to improve
preparedness for potential space weather phenomena.
``(C) Coordination with agencies.--In carrying out the
requirements of this subsection, the advisory group shall
communicate and coordinate with the interagency working group
to ensure the needs of the governmental space weather user
community are adequately and appropriately identified by the
survey under subparagraph (A).
``(D) Briefing to congress.--Not later than 30 days after
the completion of the survey under subparagraph (A), the
advisory group shall provide 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 briefing on the results of the survey under
subparagraph (A).
``(E) Publication.--Within 30 days of the briefing to
Congress, the advisory group shall make the results of the
survey under subparagraph (A) publicly available.
``(F) Reevaluation.--The advisory group shall review and
assess the survey under subparagraph (A) not less than every
3 years and update, resubmit, and republish the survey in
accordance with the requirements of subparagraphs (D) and
(E).
``(4) Federal advisory committee act.--Section 14 of the
Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not
apply to the advisory group.
``Sec. 60602. Integrated strategy
``(a) In General.--The Director of the Office of Science
and Technology Policy, in collaboration with the interagency
working group and upon the advice of the advisory group,
shall develop a strategy for coordinated observation of space
weather among members of the interagency working group (in
this chapter, referred to as the `integrated strategy'). The
integrated strategy shall identify--
``(1) observations and measurements that must be sustained
beyond the lifetime of current ground-based and space-based
assets, as described under section 60603, that are essential
for space weather research, models, forecasting, and
prediction;
``(2) new observations and measurements that may
significantly improve space weather forecasting and
prediction; and
``(3) plans for follow-on space-based observations under
section 60603.
``(b) Considerations.--In developing the integrated
strategy in subsection (a), the Director of the Office of
Science and Technology Policy shall consider, as appropriate,
the following:
``(1) Potential contributions of commercial solutions,
prize authority, academic and international partnerships,
microsatellites, small satellite options, ground-based
instruments, and hosted payloads for observations identified
in section 60602(a)(2).
``(2) Work conducted before the date of enactment of the
PROSWIFT Act by the National Science and Technology Council
with respect to space weather.
``(3) The survey under section 60601(d).
``(4) Any relevant recommendations from the most recent
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Decadal Survey for Solar and Space Physics (Heliophysics).
``(c) Review of Integrated Strategy.--
``(1) Review.--The Administrator of the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Administrator of
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in
consultation with Federal agencies participating in the
interagency working group, shall enter into an agreement with
the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
to review the integrated strategy developed in this section.
``(2) Considerations.--The review from paragraph (1) shall
also consider the current state, capability, and feasibility
of the commercial space weather sector to provide new and
supplemental observations and measurements that may
significantly improve space weather forecasting and
prediction.
``(3) Transmittal.--The Director of the Office of Science
and Technology Policy, the Administrator of the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the Administrator
of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall
transmit the integrated strategy and the results of the
review required under paragraph (1) to the Committee on
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate not later than 1 year after the
date of the completion of the survey under section
60601(d)(3). The integrated strategy and its review shall be
made publicly available within 30 days of submittal to
Congress.
``(d) Implementation Plan.--Not later than 180 days after
delivery of the review of the integrated strategy in
subsection (c)(3), the interagency working group shall
develop a plan to implement the integrated strategy,
including an estimate of the cost and schedule required for
implementation. Upon completion, the interagency working
group shall submit the implementation plan to the Committees
on Science, Space, and Technology and Armed Services of the
House of Representatives and the Committees on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation and Armed Services of the Senate.
The implementation plan shall be made publicly available
within 30 days of submittal to Congress.
``(e) Reevaluation.--The Director, in collaboration with
the interagency working group, shall update the integrated
strategy not later than 1 year after the reevaluation of the
user survey from section 60601(d)(3)(F) in accordance with
the requirements of subsections (a) through (d).
``Sec. 60603. Sustaining and advancing critical space weather
observations
``(a) Policy.--It is the policy of the United States to--
``(1) establish and sustain a baseline capability for space
weather observations and to make such observations and data
publicly available; and
``(2) obtain enhanced space weather observations, as
practicable, to advance forecasting and prediction
capability, as informed by the integrated strategy in section
60602.
``(b) Sustaining Baseline Space-based Observational
Capabilities.--
``(1) The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration shall, in cooperation with the European
Space Agency and other international and interagency
partners, 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.
``(2) The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration shall prioritize the reception of SOHO/
LASCO data.
``(3) The Administrator of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration shall maintain, for as long as is
practicable, operations of current space-based observational
assets, including but not limited to the Geostationary
Operational Environmental Satellites system, and the Deep
Space Climate Observatory.
``(c) Backup Space-based Observational Capability.--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 work with Federal and international
partners in order to secure reliable backup baseline
capability for near real-time coronal mass ejection imagery,
solar wind,
[[Page H4457]]
solar imaging, coronal imagery, and other relevant
observations required to provide space weather forecasts.
``(d) SOHO/LASCO Operational Contingency Plan.--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 an unexpected SOHO/LASCO failure, and prior to the
implementation of the backup space-based baseline
observational capability in section 60603(c).
``(e) Briefing.--Not later than 120 days after the date of
enactment of the PROSWIFT Act, the Administrator of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall provide
a briefing to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate on the
plan to secure reliable backup baseline capability described
in subsection (c) and the SOHO/LASCO operational contingency
plan developed under subsection (d).
``(f) Sustaining Ground-based Observational Capability.--
The Director of the National Science Foundation, the Director
of the United States Geological Survey, the Secretary of the
Air Force, and, as practicable in support of the Air Force,
the Secretary of the Navy, shall each--
``(1) maintain and improve ground-based observations of the
Sun, as necessary and advisable, to help meet the needs
identified in the survey under section 60601(d)(3); and
``(2) continue to provide space weather data through
ground-based facilities, including radars, lidars,
magnetometers, neutron monitors, radio receivers, aurora and
airglow imagers, spectrometers, interferometers, and solar
observatories.
``(g) Considerations.--In implementing subsections (b),
(c), and (d), the Administrators of the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration and the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, the Directors of the National
Science Foundation and United States Geological Survey, and
the Secretaries of the Air Force and the Navy shall
prioritize cost-effective and reliable solutions.
``(h) Ground-based Observational Data.--The Director of the
National Science Foundation shall--
``(1) make available to the public key data streams from
the platforms and facilities described in subsection (d) 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.
``(i) Enhanced Space-based Observations.--The Administrator
of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in
coordination with the Secretary of Defense, should develop
options to build and deploy space-based observational
capabilities, beyond the baseline capabilities referenced in
subsection (b), that may improve space weather measurements
and observations. These supplemental observational
capabilities could include commercial solutions, prize
authority, academic partnerships, microsatellites, ground-
based instruments, and opportunities to deploy the instrument
or instruments as a secondary payload on an upcoming planned
launch.
``Sec. 60604. Research activities
``(a) Basic Research.--The Director of the National Science
Foundation, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration, and the Secretary of Defense, shall--
``(1) continue to carry out basic research on heliophysics,
geospace science, and space weather; and
``(2) support competitive, peer-reviewed proposals for
conducting research, advancing modeling, and monitoring of
space weather and its impacts, including the science goals
outlined in decadal surveys in solar and space physics
conducted by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering,
and Medicine.
``(b) Multidisciplinary Research.--
``(1) Findings.--Congress finds that the multidisciplinary
nature of solar and space physics creates funding challenges
that require coordination across scientific disciplines and
Federal agencies.
``(2) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
science centers could coordinate multidisciplinary solar and
space physics research. The Administrator of the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration and Director of the
National Science Foundation should support competitively
awarded grants for multidisciplinary science centers that
advance solar and space physics research, including research-
to-operations and operations-to-research processes.
``(3) 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 each pursue multidisciplinary research
in subjects that further the understanding of solar physics,
space physics, and space weather.
``(c) Science Missions.--The Administrator of the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration should implement
missions that meet the science objectives identified in solar
and space physics decadal surveys conducted by the National
Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
``(d) Research to Operations; Operations to Research.--The
interagency working group shall, upon consideration of the
advice of the advisory group, develop formal mechanisms to--
``(1) transition the space weather research findings,
models, and capabilities of the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration, the National Science Foundation, the
United States Geological Survey, and other relevant Federal
agencies, as appropriate, to the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration and the Department of Defense;
``(2) enhance coordination between research modeling
centers and forecasting centers; and
``(3) communicate the operational needs of space weather
forecasters of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration and Department of Defense, as appropriate, to
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the
National Science Foundation, and the United States Geological
Survey.
``Sec. 60605. Space weather data
``(a) In General.--The Administrator of the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Director of the
National Science Foundation shall continue to--
``(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 research.
``Sec. 60606. Space weather knowledge transfer and
information exchange
``Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of
the PROSWIFT Act, the Administrator of the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration, in collaboration with the
Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration and the Director of the National Science
Foundation, shall enter into an arrangement with the National
Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to establish
a Space Weather Government-Academic-Commercial Roundtable to
facilitate communication and knowledge transfer among
Government participants in the space weather interagency
working group established under section 60601(c), the
academic community, and the commercial space weather sector
to--
``(1) facilitate advances in space weather prediction and
forecasting;
``(2) increase coordination of space weather research to
operations and operations to research; and
``(3) improve preparedness for potential space weather
phenomena.
``Sec. 60607. Pilot program for obtaining commercial sector
space weather data
``(a) Establishment.--Not later than 12 months after the
date of enactment of the PROSWIFT Act, the Administrator of
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration may
establish a pilot program under which the Administrator will
offer to enter into contracts with one or more entities in
the commercial space weather sector for the provision to the
Administrator of space weather data generated by such an
entity that meets the standards and specifications published
under subsection (b).
``(b) Data Standard and Specifications.--Not later than 18
months after the date of enactment of the PROSWIFT Act, the
Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, in consultation with the Secretary of
Defense, may publish standards and specifications for ground-
based, ocean-based, air-based, and space-based commercial
space weather data and metadata.
``(c) Contracts.--
``(1) In general.--Within 12 months after the date of
transmission of the review of the integrated strategy to
Congress under section 60602(c)(3) and taking into account
the results of the review, the Administrator of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration may offer to enter,
through an open competition, into at least one contract with
one or more commercial space weather sector entities capable
of providing space weather data that--
``(A) meets the standards and specifications established
for providing such data under subsection (b); and
``(B) is provided in a manner that allows the Administrator
of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to
calibrate and evaluate the data for use in space weather
research and forecasting models of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, the Department of Defense, or
both.
``(2) Assessment.--If one or more contract is entered into
under paragraph (1), not later than 4 years after the date of
enactment of the PROSWIFT Act, the Administrator of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall assess,
and submit to the Committees on Science, Space, and
Technology and Armed Services of the House of Representatives
and the Committees on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
and Armed Services of the Senate, a report on the extent to
which the pilot program has demonstrated data provided under
contracts described in paragraph (1) meet the standards and
specifications established under subsection (b) and the
extent to which the pilot program has demonstrated--
[[Page H4458]]
``(A) the viability of assimilating the commercially
provided data into National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration space weather research and forecasting models;
``(B) whether, and by how much, the data so provided add
value to space weather forecasts of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration and the Department of Defense; and
``(C) the accuracy, quality, timeliness, validity,
reliability, usability, information technology security, and
cost-effectiveness of obtaining commercial space weather data
from commercial sector providers.
``Sec. 60608. Space weather benchmarks
``The interagency working group established under section
60601(c) shall periodically review and update the benchmarks
described in the report of the National Science and
Technology Council entitled `Space Weather Phase 1
Benchmarks' and dated June 2018, as necessary, based on--
``(1) any significant new data or advances in scientific
understanding that become available; or
``(2) the evolving needs of entities impacted by space
weather phenomena.''.
(c) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--
(1) 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''.....
(2) 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 (Public Law 111-267;
124 Stat. 2806) are repealed.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Colorado (Mr. Perlmutter) and the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Lucas)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Colorado.
General Leave
Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks
and to include extraneous material on S. 881, the bill now under
consideration.
=========================== NOTE ===========================
September 16, 2020, on page H4458, the following appeared: Mr.
PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their
remarks and to include extraneous material on S. 811, the bill now
under consideration.
The online version has been corrected to read: Mr. PERLMUTTER.
Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5
legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include
extraneous material on S. 881, the bill now under consideration.
========================= END NOTE =========================
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Colorado?
There was no objection.
Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, I am very excited we are here today to pass S. 881,
the PROSWIFT Act, a bill that I have been working on for almost 5
years.
Space weather is the electromagnetic activity that comes from the
Sun, and it can have significant societal, economic, national security,
and health implications both here on Earth and in space.
About 5 years ago, Dr. Dan Baker from the University of Colorado
Boulder testified in front of the Science, Space, and Technology
Committee about the dangers of space weather events on the electric
grid. At that hearing, he said that had an observed July 2012 space
weather event actually hit Earth, we would ``still be picking up the
pieces.''
That testimony stuck with me, and when Senators Gary Peters and Cory
Gardner introduced the first version of this bill a few months later, I
was eager to start working on the House companion.
Over the last 4 years, the House and the Senate have been working
toward the shared goal of passing this legislation into law, but we
have had a few differences we have had to work out. I am glad we
finally worked through those differences and can send this bill to the
President's desk today.
In 2015, the Office of Science and Technology Policy pulled together
the best and brightest from within the various agencies working on
space weather to produce the National Space Weather Strategy and Action
Plan. These documents helped renew our focus on the critical research
and operational needs to improve our space weather enterprise, and OSTP
updated the strategy and action plan in 2019.
The PROSWIFT Act builds upon this work by providing the structures
needed for the continued advancement of heliophysics research,
collection of new data and observations, and improvements to our
modeling and forecasting.
This bill also, for the first time, clearly delineates the roles and
responsibilities of the key Federal agencies involved in space weather,
including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Science
Foundation, the Department of Defense, the Federal Aviation
Administration, and the United States Geological Survey, as well as the
Office of Science and Technology Policy.
Importantly, our legislation brings in new voices from the academic
community, commercial space weather sector, and space weather forecast
end-users. These communities will participate in the space weather
advisory group created in the bill as well as on a new government-
academia-commercial roundtable we create to be facilitated by the
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
Finally, the bill also sets up formal research-to-operations and
operations-to-research mechanisms to help break down barriers between
the research community and operational forecasters by encouraging
sharing of information and requirements to improve the pipeline of new
observations, technologies, models, and forecasts.
This bill will improve our understanding of space weather and better
prepare us for its impacts on the electric power grid, communications
networks, satellite operations, and airlines. It will also help NASA
understand the radiation environment for our astronauts on the
International Space Station, on their way back to the Moon, and, most
importantly, on their journey to Mars by 2033.
We have been working on this bill for a long time now, and I want to
thank the gentleman from Alabama, Representative Mo Brooks, for his
help pushing for this bipartisan legislation. I also want to thank
Chairwoman Johnson and her staff for their support over the years,
getting us to where we are today, and Ranking Member Frank Lucas for
his support of the bill. I also want to thank my friend, Senator Gary
Peters from Michigan, who happens to be in the House Chamber today, for
all the work he and his staff have put into this effort over the years.
Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill, and
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LUCAS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise in support of S. 881, the Promoting Research
and Observations of Space Weather to Improve the Forecasting of
Tomorrow Act, commonly referred to as the PROSWIFT Act.
Fluctuations in solar magnetic activity create variations in the
environment between Earth and the Sun that can affect technologies in
space and here on Earth. This phenomenon is what we refer to as space
weather.
For the most part, space weather has a minimal effect here, but
increased solar activity and severe events can create widespread
problems and even disrupt our electric grid. Satellites that have less
protection from Earth's magnetic field are especially vulnerable.
Significant space weather events are not a new phenomenon, and we
have evidence dating back more than 150 years of severe space weather
events affecting human activity. However, the impact of these events is
much greater now that we rely on satellites and remote sensing for
everything from cell phone communication to energy production to GPS
navigation.
For example, farmers in Oklahoma have been at the forefront of
utilizing precision agriculture to help ensure the most effective use
of our resources when planting crops, a technology dependent on GPS.
Space weather is also a national security issue. Our military has a
variety of assets in orbit around the Earth, which could potentially be
harmed by electromagnetic interference. They rely on satellites built
by NASA and operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, or NOAA, for timely and accurate information about
potential space weather events.
It is not only technology that is threatened by space weather events.
There are the astronauts who currently work on the International Space
Station more than 200 miles above the Earth's surface and will one day
serve on missions to the Moon and Mars. While we have developed
techniques and technology to reduce the threats posed by increased
radiation exposure due to a severe solar event, we have more work to do
to mitigate these hazards to our astronauts as we venture beyond low-
Earth orbit.
In short, severe space weather can have significant effects on each
and
[[Page H4459]]
every one of us. That is why timely and accurate information from
agencies like NASA and NOAA is so important. These agencies play an
important role in better monitoring and forecasting space weather.
The bill before us today represents a good faith effort by the House
and Senate to provide a framework that will provide for better
coordination across the Federal Government. This is especially timely
given that we are about to enter a period of increased solar activity,
which will create more space weather events.
I am pleased this legislation includes an amendment I introduced
during the markup of this legislation. My amendment creates a pilot
program that will ensure that emerging private-sector companies will
have a seat at the table and will be able to provide monitoring and
forecast data, which the Federal Government can purchase and utilize in
their space weather forecasts.
I thank the sponsors of this legislation for their work on this
important topic. I ask my colleagues to support this bill, and I
reserve the balance of my time, Madam Speaker.
{time} 1230
Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman
from Oklahoma (Ms. Kendra S. Horn), my friend, the chair of the
Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics.
Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Perlmutter
for yielding me the time.
Madam Speaker, I begin by saying, I rise in strong support of S. 881,
the Promoting Research and Observations of Space Weather to Improve the
Forecasting of Tomorrow, or the PROSWIFT Act, and recognize my
colleague, Mr. Perlmutter, for all of his efforts on this, as well as
my fellow Oklahoman and ranking member of the committee, Mr. Lucas, and
particularly, too, recognize Senator Peters for all of his work on this
important issue, which I think can often go underrecognized and
unappreciated.
I was proud to cosponsor the House version of the PROSWIFT Act, H.R.
5260, with Mr. Perlmutter and many others, which passed out of the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and I would like to,
again, recognize the leadership on this bipartisan and bicameral bill,
including Mr. Brooks and others for the committee's work to advance an
understanding of and the importance of predictive capabilities of space
weather.
The PROSWIFT Act is really the culmination of years of work and
reflects input from hearings, including joint hearings, the
Subcommittee on Environment and the Subcommittee on Space and
Aeronautics, which I chair.
Though, it can feel remote, space weather can have a significant
impact on us right here on Earth, as you have heard. Space weather,
such as solar flares, solar wind and geomagnetic storms of energized,
charged particles can affect everything from our electric power grids,
to satellites, to aviation operations, human spaceflight operations,
and much more.
In short, severe space weather events pose significant risks to our
infrastructure, and in turn, our economy and our national security.
This is an important time and an important thing to take action on.
Madam Speaker, space weather forecasting is years, if not decades,
behind the maturity of terrestrial forecasting, and that is why S. 881,
the PROSWIFT Act, is critical.
Without improvements in space weather forecasts and prediction, we
run the risk of potential disruptions to our critical infrastructure.
The PROSWIFT Act establishes U.S. policy to help prepare and protect us
against the social and economic impacts of space weather phenomena by
supporting actions to improve space weather forecasts and predictions.
This act makes clear the importance of federal agency contributions,
and their effective coordination, including NASA. To carry out research
on the Sun and its effects on near-Earth environments, NASA operates
research satellites whose measurements are also essential to NOAA's
operational space weather forecasts.
The PROSWIFT Act moves us forward from relying, in part, on these
research assets, some of which have been operating for over two
decades, to developing a strategic and coordinated approach to
sustaining a baseline of space weather operations and better predicting
space weather events.
It is also important to enabling our future goals of space, including
exploration goals to send humans to the Moon and to Mars, as laid out
in H.R. 5666, the bipartisan NASA Authorization Act of 2020.
Improvements in space weather forecasts will help keep our astronauts
safe from harmful space radiation, which can be elevated during solar
storms.
In addition, H.R. 5666 complements S. 881, the PROSWIFT Act, by
directing the NASA administrator to establish a space weather research
and applications program.
Madam Speaker, the Senate passed S. 881 on July 27, 2020, and now the
House must act to make sure this important legislation becomes law.
Mr. LUCAS. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from
Alabama (Mr. Brooks).
Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I support the Promoting
Research and Observations of Space Weather to Improve the Forecasting
of Tomorrow Act, called the PROSWIFT Act.
I thank Congressman Perlmutter for his leadership on this important
issue and for working with me in the Committee on Science, Space, and
Technology to advance the Senate bill, which is identical to the House
version we have worked so long and hard on.
The PROSWIFT Act advances America's understanding of potentially
severe weather events and damaging consequences.
Space weather is a collection of physical processes beginning at the
Sun with solar winds and ultimately affecting human activities on Earth
and in space. Humanity needs a better understanding of these solar
winds and their interaction with Earth's atmosphere. The PROSWIFT Act
is a step towards that better understanding.
In Alabama's Marshall Space Flight Center, scientists and engineers
are at the forefront of space weather research. Under the PROSWIFT Act,
their enhanced research will advance our understanding of and ability
to forecast space weather.
The PROSWIFT Act recognizes that space weather not only impacts us on
Earth, it can and will impact us in deep space exploration.
For example, before we launch NASA's Artemis man-to-Moon-missions
that pave the way to Mars missions, it is best that we should better
understand how space weather phenomena impacts life in space,
satellites, and other space instrumentation.
Madam Speaker, it is critical that we properly forecast space weather
and prepare for and protect astronauts from the dangers of solar
radiation.
Madam Speaker, I, again, thank my colleague, Mr. Perlmutter, for his
leadership on space weather and his partnership on the PROSWIFT Act.
I encourage my colleagues to vote for Senate Bill 881 and send it to
President Trump to sign.
Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend from Alabama for
being a good partner and really working with me and with the Senate to
refine and get this thing into an excellent product.
Madam Speaker, I include in the Record the following letters of
support we received for the PROSWIFT Act: a letter from the University
of Colorado at Boulder; a letter from the University Corporation for
Atmospheric Research; a letter from the American Commercial Space
Weather Association; a letter from the American Astronomical Society; a
letter from the American Geophysical Union; a letter from the
University of Michigan; a letter from the University of New Hampshire;
and a letter from the Pennsylvania State University.
LASP,
January 8, 2020.
Hon. Ed Perlmutter,
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Representative Perlmutter: On behalf of my colleagues
at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP)
and the University of Colorado Boulder, I write in support of
the Promoting Research and Observations of Space Weather to
Improve the Forecasting of Tomorrow Act (PROSWIFT) Act (H.R.
5260). Given the continued threat and vulnerabilities facing
our world from solar interactions with the Earth, we applaud
the bicameral and bipartisan approach Congress is taking to
address the challenges we face with respect to enhancing our
nation's space weather forecasting capabilities.
[[Page H4460]]
Throughout the Space Age, we have discovered and
accumulated a vast knowledge on the governing physical
processes of the various regions of both deep space as well
as the space surrounding near-Earth. This knowledge has
provided an opportunity to expand our reach into the solar
system and beyond, as well as increase our Earth observation
capabilities. Over time, the increased utilization of
satellites continues to have a broad reach across our
society, including within the security, public safety and
commercial realms. The data we acquire from these satellites
is vital in order to protect our national security and
economic interests, and interruptions stemming from increased
solar activity could prove detrimental in carrying out these
important functions.
As a result, the call to increase our space weather
forecasting and mitigation capabilities was amplified by the
National Academies Decadal Survey in Solar and Space Physics
in 2012, and again through the Office of Science and
Technology Policy's Space Weather Action Plan that was
released in October 2015. Through these calls, it has become
a national imperative to streamline the mechanisms designed
to help develop and maintain a forecasting system that not
only help to predict space weather events, but to respond to
them. We believe the PROSWIFT Act will provide a
collaborative framework for the federal government and its
agencies to work together alongside academic, international
and commercial space communities to advance this critical
undertaking.
An important component of space weather research and
monitoring is collaboration and cooperation among its many
stakeholders. The legislation's call for the development of a
Space Weather Government-Academic-Commercial Roundtable in
addition to a Space Weather Advisory Group will foster
collaboration among academic, commercial and space weather
end users designed to provide the federal interagency working
group with guidance from key constituent groups. In addition,
the renewed expansion of basic and multidisciplinary research
as well as the federal partnership with the National
Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine to
``implement missions that meet the science objectives
identified in solar and space physics decadal surveys'' is a
great step forward toward increasing our nation's future
forecasting and responsive capabilities. Finally, the strong
focus on research and operational capacity within this
legislation underscores the important role academic
institutions will continue to play in addressing the needs of
federal agencies. Here at LASP (and I, daresay, across all of
CU-Boulder), we take great pride in our expertise in research
to operations and operations to research (R2O/O2R)
capabilities, and we stand ready to assist in the cooperative
model outlined in the H.R. 5260 to advance our national space
weather forecast and response capabilities.
Again, we applaud this legislation and its aim to
streamline federal efforts working in conjunction with
academic and commercial space partners in order to better
understand and predict space weather activities and their
impacts on our national interests. Thank you for your
outstanding support and leadership, and please continue to
think of us as a resource and partner going forward.
Sincerely,
Daniel N. Baker, Ph.D.,
Distinguished Professor of Planetary & Space Physics, Moog-
BRE Endowed Chair of Space Sciences, Director, Laboratory for
Atmospheric and Space Physics; Professor, Astrophysical and
Planetary Sciences; Professor, Department of Physics;
Professor, Aerospace Engineering Sciences.
____
UCAR,
Office of the President,
January 8, 2020.
Hon. Ed Perlmutter,
Washington, DC.
Dear Congressman Perlmutter: As a research organization
committed to better understanding the earth system, including
the critical role of the sun in geospace sciences, the
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) would
like to thank you for proposing H.R. 5260--Promoting Research
and Observations of Space Weather to Improve the Forecasting
of Tomorrow Act--and voice our strong support for PROSWIFT.
H.R. 5260 will enhance the integration of existing national
efforts to understand, predict, prepare for, and mitigate
space weather and will strengthen economic and national
security as a result.
Scientists are just beginning to understand the
interactions between our sun and the Earth. Given the growing
national importance and reliance on technology, it is
critical that we expand our scientific understanding of the
interactions between the sun and Earth so that we may improve
forecasting and mitigate the effects of space weather events.
Coupled with the National Space Weather Strategy and National
Space Weather Action Plan, this legislation sets national
priorities to increase and improve space weather
observations, science, and forecasting abilities.
H.R. 5260 lays out a clear road map for the space weather
enterprise which consists of the public, private and academic
sectors, and in so doing will enable better research to
operations transitions that will benefit all communities that
rely on technology both on the ground and in space that can
be affected by these sun-driven events. The creation of the
Space Weather Advisory Group is to be lauded as an excellent
first step as it will establish the necessary linkages
between government, academia and the private sector in an
organized way that is currently done in an ad hoc fashion.
This new approach will allow Congress to be kept up to date
on the latest advances in science that are translated into
operations and will help to identify the highest priority
areas that are in need of resources in both the research and
operational realms.
Most of our understanding of space weather is based on
experience and knowledge gained over the last 30 years,
though the historical record indicates space weather events
of much greater severity have occurred within the last 150
years. Impacting airlines, GPS, and electric utilities, space
weather events in recent history resulted in economic
consequences in the tens of millions of dollars. Estimates
for damage resulting from a repeat of the worst known event
of the last 150 years range from $1-2 trillion in the first
year alone. Scientists do not know the likelihood of such an
event recurring, or even whether such an event is the worst-
case scenario. Thus, predictability of such events needs to
be the driver for all research in the space weather domain.
As part of the need to organize the research optimally to
meet this threat, and in line with input from your recent
hearing, UCAR encourages the committee to establish the
Geosciences Directorate within the National Science
Foundation (NSF) to be the lead within NSF for all space
weather research activities.
Additionally, we commend H.R. 5260 for its emphasis on
``Sustaining Ground-Based Observational Capability'' and we
believe it is imperative to draw the distinction between
astronomy and space weather research in this regards. Ground-
based observations are less costly and are the appropriate
way to prove an observational capability and ensure risk
reduction for instruments that may later be flown in space.
Current ground-based telescopes used in astronomy are
inadequate for space weather research so this section is
vital to ensure a robust ``ground to space'' strategy.
H.R. 5260 would provide clear roles and responsibilities to
the various federal agencies responsible for understanding,
predicting, and forecasting space weather, including the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the
National Science Foundation (NSF), and the Department of
Defense (DOD). As these are all agencies with which we work
regularly, this clarity would enable us to pursue research
that will have the best impact on society's ability to
predict and respond to space weather events.
Again, thank you for your tireless work supporting the
science community in Colorado and across the United States.
We appreciate your efforts on this bill and many other
endeavors.
Best regards,
Dr. Antonio J. Busalacchi,
President, University Corporation
for Atmospheric Research.
____
American Commercial Space
Weather Association,
December 6, 2019.
Jeff O'Neil,
Legislative Director, Office of Congressman Ed Perlmutter
(C0-07), Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. O'Neil: On behalf of the American Commercial Space
Weather Association (ACSWA), we are writing to express our
strong support for H.R. 5260, Promoting Research and
Observations of Space Weather to Improve the Forecasting of
Tomorrow (PROSWIFT) Act. The current version of the bill
highlights the growing importance of space weather across a
broad range of technology areas. We are pleased to see
references to the expanding role of the commercial sector in
addressing gaps in fundamental knowledge, providing the means
to develop and improve observational resources, enabling the
research to operations and operations to research enterprise,
and mitigating the impacts of space weather threats. ACSWA
stands ready to aid federal agencies in undertaking this
critically important enterprise.
The studies and survey mandated by the bill will be
extremely helpful to the space weather community as it
mobilizes to address the high priority science and technology
objectives that continue to drive space weather activities in
federal laboratories, academic institutions, and the private
sector. ACSWA member companies strive to continue agency and
academia close partnerships that have been established and
strengthened through the years. We fully anticipate that the
five members of the PROSWIFT Advisory Committee from the
commercial sector will ensure that ACSWA expertise, assets,
and resources will be fully integrated in the space weather
strategies emerging from the PROSWIFT-mandated actions.
ACSWA fully supports the observational priorities outlined
in the PROSWIFT bill. More specifically, ACSWA feels it is
important to continue L1 observations with a follow-on
mission while simultaneously working aggressively toward
developing an L5
[[Page H4461]]
platform. The combination of solar observations from L1 and
L5 orbits provide an unprecedented view of the disturbances
from which most space weather effects at Earth originate.
Additionally, the rapidly improving capabilities in
monitoring the ionosphere using radio occultation techniques
will address a long-standing challenge in mitigating space
weather effects on navigation and communication systems. The
data sets generated by these observations will offer many
opportunities for commercial sector companies to develop
tailored products for government and industry customers.
We note that the PROSWlFT bill provides some latitude to
federal agencies in how the commercial sector will be
involved in space weather research and operations. ACSWA
hopes that the language in the bill provides sufficient
encouragement for agencies to overcome long-standing barriers
that inhibit full cooperation and involvement with the
commercial sector, not all of which are based on fiscal
constraints. Again, the commercial sector members of the
PROSWIFT Advisory Committee will have an important role to
play in identifying strategies for taking full advantage of
the private sector in meeting space weather goals. The pilot
program removed from the earlier version of this bill would
have effectively demonstrated the merits of such strategies.
ACSWA looks forward to seeing such pilot programs implemented
by federal agencies as they strive to meet space weather
research and operational goals.
While we don't want to-jeopardize the passage of the bill,
there are additional small changes we believe could be added
to the bill to ensure that all available technologies and
processes are applied to reduce space weather hazards:
Page 7, lines 23-24 (Section 60601(d)(3)): change ``Each
Federal agency participating in the space weather . . .'' to
``All Federal agencies participating in the space weather . .
. .''
p. 18., line 19 in section 60603(d)(2)): ``. . . airflow
imagers, spectrometers, interferometers, airborne radiation
instrumentation, and . . . .''
ACSWA agrees with the Agency changes of Page 21-22; 23-5:
``. . . transition National Aeronautics and Space
Administration, National Science Foundation, United States
Geological Survey, and other relevant Federal agencies space
weather research findings, models, and capabilities, as
appropriate, to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration and the Department of Defense'' to:
``transition space weather research findings, models, and
capabilities, as appropriate, from the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration, National Science Foundation, United
States Geological Survey, other relevant Federal agencies,
the academic community, and the commercial space weather
sector to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
and the Department of Defense''
ACSWA agrees with the Agency changes of Page 22, 9-15: ``.
. . communicate National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration and Department of Defense operational needs of
space weather forecasters, as appropriate, to the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Science
Foundation and United States Geological Survey.'' to:
``communicate National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
and Department of Defense operational needs of space weather
forecasters, as appropriate, to the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration, the National Science Foundation, United
States Geological Survey, other relevant Federal agencies,
the academic community, and the commercial space weather
sector.''
ACSWA appreciates all the hard work and careful thought
devoted to crafting the PROSWIFT bill. It not only provides a
tremendous boost to the entire space weather enterprise, but
also takes a huge step toward protecting the nation from
threats to technological infrastructure that is becoming ever
more susceptible to space weather disturbances. We hope that
this vital bill is quickly approved and federal agencies move
forward with the activities so carefully delineated in the
document.
Sincerely,
Devrie Intriligator,
W. Kent Tobiska,
Bob Robinson (SciencePrime, LLC),
on behalf of the ACS WA Executive Committee:
Geoff Crowley (Atmospheric and Space Technology Research
Associates),
Alec Engell (NextGen),
Jennifer Gannon (Computational Physics, Inc.),
Janet Green (Space Hazards Applications),
Devrie Intriligator (Carmel Research Center, Inc.),
Bob Robinson (SciencePrime, LLC),
Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., VADM USN (ret.) (GeoOptics),
Bob Schunk (Space Environment Corporation),
W. Kent Tobiska (Space Environment Technologies),
American Commercial Space Weather Association (ACSWA)
www.ACSWA.us.
____
American Astronomical Society,
Office of the President,
December 12, 2019.
Hon. Ed Perlmutter,
House of Representatives,
Washington DC.
Hon. Mo Brooks,
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Representatives Perlmutter and Brooks: On behalf of
the over 8,500 members of the American Astronomical Society
(AAS) and its Solar Physics Division (SPD), we write to
express our strong support for the Promoting Research and
Observations of Space Weather to Improve the Forecasting of
Tomorrow (PROSWIFT) Bill and to thank you for your leadership
on this vitally important topic. The legislation that you
have introduced in the House is comprehensive in its scope,
addressing key aspects of space weather and its significance
for national security, communications, and human and robotic
space operations in low Earth orbit and interplanetary space.
In particular, we endorse the following components of the
bill, all of which are essential to further our understanding
of the causes and effects of space weather, as well as to
advance our ability to reliably forecast space weather
events:
the recognition of the wide impact of space weather and the
concomitant call for strong cooperation between stakeholder
agencies such as NOAA, NSF, NASA, FAA, and the Departments of
Defense and the Interior through the establishment of an
interagency working group through the National Science and
Technology Council on space weather, with accountability to
Congress through the submission of pertinent reports;
the call for the formation of a space weather advisory
group with broad representation across the academic,
commercial, and non-governmental end-user communities to
identify new technologies to aid in understanding and
forecasting space weather;
the implementation of an integrated strategy that
identifies the observation capabilities necessary for near-
real-time solar and coronal mass ejection imaging and that
must be sustained beyond the lifetime of current ground-based
and space-based assets in order to maintain capability;
the development of space weather instrumentation and
competitive, peer-reviewed proposals for conducting research,
including interdisciplinary research, in subjects that
further the understanding of solar physics, space physics,
and space weather and its impacts; and
increased engagement and cooperation with the
international, academic, and commercial space weather
communities on the observational infrastructure and
scientific research necessary to advance the forecasting of
and preparation and protection from space weather phenomena.
Thank you for your attention to this timely and important
issue. The membership of the SPD, which includes the nation's
foremost experts in many of the areas addressed in this
legislation, stands ready to assist in any way it can. If
there is anything we can do, please do not hesitate to
contact us.
Sincerely,
Megan Donahue,
President, AAS.
Dale Gary,
Chair, SPD.
____
AGU 100,
January 8, 2020.
Hon. Ed Perlmutter,
Washington, DC.
Hon. Mo Brooks,
Washington, DC.
Dear Congressmen Perlmutter and Brooks: On behalf of the
American Geophysical Union (AGU) and its 60,000 members, I am
writing to endorse H.R. 5260, The Promoting Research and
Observations of Space Weather to Improve the Forecasting of
Tomorrow (PROSWIFT) Act, and to thank you for crafting this
important legislation.
Space weather has the potential to inflict trillions of
dollars of damage on our economy, weaken our national
security, and alter our way of life. The National Research
Council estimates that a severe space weather event has the
potential to inflict $1-2 trillion dollars of economic and
societal damage in the first year alone and impact more than
130 million people. To recover from such an event could take
from 4-10 years. Moreover, space weather fluctuations are not
limited to rare catastrophic events but regularly impact our
society and economy. It's estimated that the average economic
impact of moderate geomagnetic events on the electric power
grid in the U.S. is $7 to $10 billion per year. Additionally,
advancing our understanding of the Sun is essential for the
United States to realize its space exploration ambitions.
Given the economic and opportunity costs associated with
space weather, we support the bill's approach of creating a
national, coordinated plan to advance our understanding of
the relationship between the Sun and Earth and to ensure the
development of new technologies and forecasting capabilities
to mitigate the threat posed by space weather. We appreciate
the bill's recognition that a partnership between industry,
academia, and federal agencies is needed to further our
understanding and capacity to address the impacts of space
weather. As a community dedicated to advancing the
understanding of Earth and space science, we applaud the
bill's intent to further scientifically informed action
towards disaster preparation, mitigation, response, and
recovery.
AGU looks forward to working with you as this legislation
advances.
With best wishes,
Christine W. McEntee,
CEO/Executive Director,
American Geophysical Union.
[[Page H4462]]
____
Office of Research,
University of Michigan,
January 7, 2020.
Hon. Ed Perlmutter,
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Representative Perlmutter: On behalf of the University
of Michigan Office of Research, I write to thank you for
introducing the Promoting Research and Observations of Space
Weather to Improve the Forecasting of Tomorrow (PROSWIFT) Act
(H.R. 5260).
As this legislation notes, severe space weather events
``could have significant societal, economic, national
security, and health impacts.'' This bipartisan legislation
is essential to helping us predict and mitigate such events
that could drastically disrupt our economy and national
security.
We are pleased this legislation outlines clear roles and
responsibilities for the relevant federal agencies that are
involved with improving our understanding, prediction and
forecasting of space weather events. Importantly, PROSWIFT
recognizes the necessity of engagement and cooperation with
the academic community, among other sectors, by establishing
a Space Weather Advisory Group whose membership will be
equally comprised of a diverse stakeholder group including
the academic community. Additionally, this bill creates a
Space Weather Government-Academic-Commercial Roundtable to
facilitate advances in space weather prediction and
forecasting, among other items, which is necessary to
efficiently advance our understanding of space weather.
The University of Michigan is focused on helping to improve
the characterization, prediction, and mitigation of space
weather events. Researchers on our campus study the effects
of large solar eruptions and coronal mass ejections, and
develop high-performance computational models to describe and
predict hazardous conditions. If any of our experts on campus
can ever be a resource, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Once again, thank you for your leadership on this
legislation. We appreciate your continued commitment to
improving efforts to predict and mitigate space weather
events and we hope the full House of Representatives will
approve this legislation expeditiously.
Sincerely,
Rebecca Cunningham, M.D.,
Interim Vice President for Research.
____
University of New Hampshire,
January 7, 2020.
Hon. Eddie Bernice Johnson,
Chair, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, House of
Representatives, Washington, DC.
Hon. Frank Lucas,
Ranking Member, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chair Johnson and Ranking Member Lucas: We are writing
on behalf of the University of New Hampshire (UNH) to voice
our strong support for the PROSWIFT Act (H.R. 5260). UNH
urges swift approval of this bipartisan legislation critical
to ensuring that the United States is equipped to predict,
mitigate, and respond to the hazards that space weather poses
to our national security and economic wellbeing.
Federal support for research and technology development is
essential to improving the Nation's space weather readiness.
Current space weather monitoring capabilities rely on an
observational infrastructure that is incapable of providing
the lead time required to undertake proper space weather
mitigation measures. We applaud the Committee's recognition
of the importance of fundamental research into the physical
processes behind space weather. Such research will enable
more sophisticated prediction capabilities and equip
decision-makers with the information and tools necessary to
avert crippling damage to our satellites, electric power
grid, and other sensitive assets that underpin our economy
and national security apparatus.
UNH is especially supportive of Sections 60603 and 60604.
The former would strengthen support for critical ground-based
and space-based space weather observational platforms while
the latter would identify specific roles and responsibilities
for research, development, and R20/02R activities at relevant
agencies such as NASA, NSF, and NOAA. Particularly important
to UNH and many of its peer institutions is the legislation's
commitment to advancing the consensus-based priorities
identified by the scientific community and articulated in the
National Academies Solar and Space Physics Decadal Survey.
We thank you for putting forward this important piece of
legislation, and we hope that UNH can serve as a resource for
you as you continue working to address the pressing issue of
space weather.
Sincerely,
Dr. Kevin Gardner,
Vice Provost for Research, University of New Hampshire.
Dr. Harlan Spence,
Director, Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and
Space, University of New Hampshire.
____
Penn State,
January 8, 2020.
Hon. Ed Perlmutter,
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Perlmutter: I write to express support for H.R.
5260, the Promoting Research and Observations of Space
Weather to Improve the Forecasting of Tomorrow (PROSWIFT)
Act, and appreciation for your leadership on this legislation
that aims to improve efforts for predicting and mitigating
space weather events.
By delineating clear roles and responsibilities to federal
agencies that study and predict space weather, the
legislation will improve resources and make critical
measurement data available for the research community to
model the frequency and severity of space weather events.
This information will be helpful for monitoring space weather
events, particularly coronal mass ejections and geomagnetic
disturbances that can cause interruptions to the power grid
and in satellites, affecting critical infrastructure that is
dependent on communications technology and electricity.
With an increase in focus and attention to space weather
activities provided by this legislation, researchers with
expertise in data assimilation and big data analysis at Penn
State and around the nation can conduct risk analysis and
plan for responses to space weather events before they occur.
Penn State researchers and educators in meteorology,
geoinformatics, energy business and engineering, as well as
social science, look forward to the data opportunities made
available through this legislation.
If I or any of our experts in the College of Earth and
Mineral Sciences can be of assistance to you, please feel
free to contact my federal relations colleagues.
Sincerely,
Lee R. Kump,
John Leone Dean.
Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I also include in the Record an op-ed
from The Hill dated September 10, 2020, by Dr. Antonio Busalacchi, who
supports this bill.
[From the Hill, Sept. 10, 2020]
Congress Needs To Finalize Spa Weather Bill as Solar Storms Pose
Heightened Threat
(By Antonio J. Busalacchi)
The COVID-19 pandemic has left us more dependent than ever
on advanced information and communication technologies, with
many businesses and schools relying on a range of remote
services. In this environment, building resilience to
potential threats that can disrupt society's essential daily
activities is critical.
For this reason, it is heartening to see Congress advancing
legislation to better protect the nation from solar storms
that spew millions of tons of charged matter toward Earth.
Such space weather events can distort GPS signals, scramble
satellite operations, and disable communications and power
systems, with serious consequences for our economy and armed
services--a particularly major concern as the Pentagon
prepares for future space-based conflicts.
Significant space weather events occur every decade or so
with far-reaching and destructive consequences. A powerful
solar storm in 1989 cut off power to millions of Canadians,
and major storms in 2003 affected more than half of Earth-
orbiting spacecraft. Just three years ago, solar flares
caused radio blackouts for hours during critical emergency
response efforts to approaching hurricanes in the Caribbean
and nearby regions.
A solar superstorm poses even greater risks. The so-called
Carrington Event in 1859, which ignited fires in telegraph
offices, would have catastrophic impacts on today's society,
potentially resulting in widespread damage to power grids,
communication networks, and other technologies that would
take weeks, months, or even years to repair. Even before
COVID-19 led to an increased reliance on e-based
technologies, the National Academy of Sciences estimated that
such an event could result in as much as $2 trillion in
damages--or more than 10 times the costs of Hurricane
Katrina.
Despite a growing array of advanced satellites that monitor
the sun, forecasters cannot accurately predict when a major
storm will erupt from the sun and begin its one- to four-day
journey toward Earth. Observations provide only limited
information about where the storm will hit and its potential
for damage until it is within about a half-hour of Earth.
This does not leave satellite operators and utility managers
with sufficient notice to fully shield vulnerable electronics
and power down critical hardware.
To improve its forecasting capability, the nation needs to
invest in a new generation of space- and ground-based
instruments that can provide continual measurements of
magnetic fields throughout the solar atmosphere. These
measurements would alert us to conditions that are conducive
for storms and help us determine whether an incoming storm
will penetrate our atmosphere and target certain regions on
Earth, or harmlessly glance off.
Scientists are also working toward more advanced computer
models of the sun. One of their primary goals is to stimulate
the buildup of energy in twisted magnetic fields within the
solar atmosphere, enabling forecasters to predict when the
fields will erupt and spew tons of charged particles toward
Earth.
Fortunately, Congress is starting to take action on this
important issue. The Senate last month unanimously passed
legislation to improve scientific understanding and
forecasting of space weather. The Promoting Research and
Observations of Space Weather to
[[Page H4463]]
Improve the Forecasting of Tomorrow (PROSWIFT) Act would
break down barriers between the nation's researchers and
forecasters, coordinate the efforts of key federal agencies,
and establish an integrated strategy across the federal
government to address space weather research and
observational needs.
This legislation, appropriately, has strong bipartisan
support. Sens. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and Cory Gardner (R-
Colo.) co-sponsored the Senate bill. In the House of
Representatives, Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-Colo.) is working with
eight co-sponsors on both sides of the aisle to advance the
measure.
With just months remaining on the calendar of the current
Congress, the House must provide the final passage of this
important legislation.
Congress needs to provide flexible funding to states to deploy
Our solar forecasting capabilities at present are
comparable to terrestrial weather prediction before the
Second World War when communities had little warning of
incoming storms. Since then, government agencies, private
companies, and university researchers have collaborated on
landmark advances in weather prediction, which have saved
countless lives, fostered economic growth, and supported
military operations.
We have now arrived at a pivotal moment in forecasting
solar storms. At a time when society is more dependent than
ever on advanced e-based technologies, the PROSWIFT Act lays
out a clear road map for bringing together expertise in
government, the private sector, and academia to forecast
these damaging events. If Congress and the administration
successfully enact the legislation, this predictive
capability will provide a critical safeguard for America's
economic competitiveness and national security, and for the
business and school technologies that we have all come to
rely upon.
Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, just reading quickly from the op-ed as
to why we are doing this:
``Significant space weather events occur every decade or so with far-
reaching and destructive consequences. A powerful solar storm in 1989
cut off power to millions of Canadians, and major storms in 2003
affected more than half of the Earth-orbiting spacecraft. Just 3 years
ago, solar flares caused radio blackouts for hours during critical
emergency response efforts to approaching hurricanes in the Caribbean
and nearby regions.
``A solar superstorm poses even greater risks. The so-called
Carrington Event in 1859, which ignited fires in telegraph offices,
would have catastrophic impacts on today's society, potentially
resulting in widespread damage to power grids, communication networks,
and other technologies.''
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LUCAS. Madam Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I yield myself
such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I, again, would like to thank the sponsors of this
legislation for their hard work on this important topic.
I encourage all my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Madam Speaker, I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for
supporting this legislation and for both sides of the Capitol. We have
been working on it for a long time. There has been a lot of serious
interest in this piece of legislation because of the potential for
damage that a space weather event can have.
As I said before, we have worked together on the Committee on
Science, Space and Technology and the Senate Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation to advance this bill for almost 5 years.
Each iteration of the bill brought new perspectives and new ideas,
and we worked across two administrations. We put all that work together
into the bill before us today, and I, again, thank the Members and
staff who helped make this possible.
Madam Speaker, I encourage all my colleagues to vote ``aye'' on this
space weather bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of S.
881 ``The Promoting Research and Observations of Space Weather to
Improve the Forecasting of Tomorrow, or PROSWIFT, Act.''
Space weather is something the American public may not yet have an
awareness of, but it has the potential to impact society across the
world--every single day.
Geomagnetic storms or solar flares can cause disturbances in both
space and the near-Earth environment.
These effects can reach the Earth's surface and pose significant
risks to humans operating in space, some aircraft flights, space
communications, GPS-based services, the electric grid, pipelines, and
other space-based and ground-based infrastructure.
In short, space weather events can have major societal, national
security, economic, and health impacts.
That is why I was an original co-sponsor of Mr. Perlmutter's H.R.
5260, ``The PROSWIFT Act,'' which is the basis of the text of the
Senate-passed space weather bill we are voting on today. H.R. 5260 was
widely supported by the space weather community, including academia,
industry, and not-for-profit entities.
I want to commend my colleague on the House Science Committee, Mr.
Perlmutter, for tirelessly pushing to make this legislation a reality
for over five years.
He and his dedicated staff worked closely with my Committee staff,
with the staff of the Committee's Ranking Member, as well as staff of
our colleagues in the Senate, to bring this legislation to the floor
today.
Unlike previous attempts to move this legislation, I am proud that
the bill being voted on today came out of regular order in the House
Science Committee.
This bill took into consideration feedback from major stakeholders in
the space weather community and was strengthened during our markup
process to include a commercial space weather pilot program. It was
further strengthened following negotiations with our colleagues in the
Senate.
I am pleased that this bill represents both bicameral and bipartisan
agreement on this important issue.
I have supported the overall agenda to advance the space weather
enterprise and ensure capabilities for space weather observation and
forecasting for many years and Congresses before this. I am looking
forward to finally passing this legislation today, and have it enacted
after years of hard work.
Being able to better understand and predict space weather events is
vitally important to protecting our society, our economy, and our
critical national infrastructure. I urge my colleagues to support this
bipartisan and good governance bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Perlmutter) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, S. 881.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________