[116th Congress Public Law 181]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



[[Page 881]]

  PROMOTING RESEARCH AND OBSERVATIONS OF SPACE WEATHER TO IMPROVE THE 
                       FORECASTING OF TOMORROW ACT

[[Page 134 STAT. 882]]

Public Law 116-181
116th Congress

                                 An Act


 
 To improve understanding and forecasting of space weather events, and 
        for other purposes. <<NOTE: Oct. 21, 2020 -  [S. 881]>> 

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Promoting 
Research and Observations of Space Weather to Improve the Forecasting of 
Tomorrow Act.>> 
SECTION 1. <<NOTE: 51 USC 10101 note.>>  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. <<NOTE: 51 USC 60601 note.>>  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 <<NOTE: 51 USC 60601 prec.>>  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. <<NOTE: 51 USC 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.

[[Page 134 STAT. 883]]

                    ``(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.

[[Page 134 STAT. 884]]

                    ``(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) <<NOTE: Deadline. Establishment. Coordination.>>  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

[[Page 134 STAT. 885]]

        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) <<NOTE: Deadline. Consultation.>>  
                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 
                community, the commercial space weather sector, and 
                space weather end users that informs the interests and 
                work of the interagency working group.
                    ``(B) <<NOTE: Appointments.>>  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) <<NOTE: Deadline. Appointment.>>  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) <<NOTE: Deadline.>>  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

[[Page 134 STAT. 886]]

                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) <<NOTE: Assessment.>>  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) <<NOTE: Consultation.>>  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) <<NOTE: Deadline.>>  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) <<NOTE: Deadline. Public information.>>  
                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) <<NOTE: Review. Assessment. Time 
                period. Update.>>  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. <<NOTE: Deadlines. 51 USC 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

[[Page 134 STAT. 887]]

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) <<NOTE: Consultation. Contracts.>>  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). <<NOTE: Public information.>>  The 
        integrated strategy and its review shall be made publicly 
        available within 30 days of submittal to Congress.

    ``(d) <<NOTE: Cost estimates.>>  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

[[Page 134 STAT. 888]]

Services of the House of Representatives and the Committees on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation and Armed Services of the 
Senate. <<NOTE: Public information.>>  The implementation plan shall be 
made publicly available within 30 days of submittal to Congress.

    ``(e) <<NOTE: Update.>>  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. <<NOTE: 51 USC 60603.>>  Sustaining and advancing 
                    critical space weather observations

    ``(a) Policy.--It is the policy of the United States to--
            ``(1) <<NOTE: Data. Public information.>>  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) <<NOTE: Coordination.>>  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, 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) <<NOTE: Deadline.>>  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

[[Page 134 STAT. 889]]

 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) <<NOTE: Public information.>>  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) <<NOTE: Coordination.>>  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. <<NOTE: 51 USC 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.

[[Page 134 STAT. 890]]

    ``(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) <<NOTE: Coordination.>>  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. <<NOTE: 51 USC 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.

[[Page 134 STAT. 891]]

``Sec. 60606. <<NOTE: 51 USC 60606.>>  Space weather knowledge 
                    transfer and information exchange

     <<NOTE: Deadline. Contract.>> ``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) <<NOTE: Coordination.>>  increase coordination of 
        space weather research to operations and operations to research; 
        and
            ``(3) improve preparedness for potential space weather 
        phenomena.
``Sec. 60607. <<NOTE: Deadlines. 51 USC 60607.>>  Pilot program 
                    for obtaining commercial sector space weather 
                    data

    ``(a) <<NOTE: Contracts.>>  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) <<NOTE: Consultation.>>  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) <<NOTE: Reports.>>  Assessment.--If one or more 
        contract is entered into under paragraph (1), not later than 4 
        years after the date

[[Page 134 STAT. 892]]

        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--
                    ``(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. <<NOTE: 51 USC 60608.>>  Space weather benchmarks

     <<NOTE: Review. Update.>> ``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) <<NOTE: 51 USC 10101 prec.>>  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) <<NOTE: Repeals.>>  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

[[Page 134 STAT. 893]]

        under section 1(b) of that Act (Public Law 111-267; 124 Stat. 
        2806) are repealed.

    Approved October 21, 2020.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 881:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

SENATE REPORTS: No. 116-171 (Comm. on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 166 (2020):
            July 27, considered and passed Senate.
            Sept. 16, considered and passed House.
DAILY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS (2020):
            Oct. 21, Presidential statement.

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