    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 134, 116th Congress, 2nd Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    Public Law 116-181
    116th Congress

    An Act

    To improve understanding and forecasting of space weather events, and
    for other purposes. <>

    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.

    [[Page 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 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) <>  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 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) <>
    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) <>  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

    [[Page 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) <>  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

    [[Page 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) <>  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

    [[Page 888]]

    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, 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

    [[Page 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) <>  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.

    [[Page 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) <>  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.

    [[Page 891]]

    ``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

    [[Page 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. <>  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

    [[Page 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.