#aaeth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #ada ,,an ,,act ,to improve understanding and forecasting of space weather events1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,space ,weather ,research and ,forecasting ,act4 #b4 ,space weather 7a7 ,in general ,subtitle ,,vi of title #ea1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding after chapter #fje the following3 #fjg ,space weather #fjgja4 ,space weather4#fjgjb4 ,observations and forecasting4#fjgjc4 ,research and technology4#fjgjd4 ,space weather data4 #fjgja4 ,space weather 7a7 ,findings ,congress makes the following findings3 7#a7 ,space weather events pose a significant threat to humans working in the space environment and to modern technological systems4 7#b7 ,the effects of severe space weather events on the electric power grid1 satellites and satellite communications and information1 airline operations1 astronauts living and working in space1 and space-based position1 navigation1 and timing systems could have significant societal1 economic1 national security1 and health impacts4 7#c7 ,earth and space observations provide crucial data necessary to predict and warn about space weather events4 7#d7 ,clear roles and accountability of ,federal departments and agencies are critical for an efficient and effective response to threats posed by space weather4 7#e7 ,in ,october #bjae1 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 information4 7b7 ,federal agency roles 7#a7 ,findings ,congress finds that-- 7,a7 the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration provides operational space weather forecasting and monitoring for civil applications1 maintains ground and space-based assets to provide observations needed for forecasting1 prediction1 and warnings1 and develops requirements for space weather forecasting technologies and science2 7,b7 the ,department of ,defense provides operational space weather forecasting1 monitoring1 and research for the department's unique missions and applications2 7,c7 the ,national ,aeronautics and ,space ,administration provides increased understanding of the fundamental physics of the ,sun-,earth system through space-based observations and modeling1 develops new space-based technologies and missions1 and monitors space weather for ,,nasa's space missions2 7,d7 the ,national ,science ,foundation provides increased understanding of the ,sun-,earth system through ground-based measurements1 technologies1 and modeling2 7,e7 the ,department of the ,interior collects1 distributes1 and archives operational ground-based magnetometer data in the ,united ,states and its territories1 and works with the international community to improve global geophysical monitoring and develops crustal conductivity models to assess and mitigate risk from space weather induced electric ground currents2 and 7,f7 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 ,organization1 integrates space weather data and products into the ,next ,generation ,air ,transportation ,system1 and conducts real-time monitoring of the charged particle radiation environment to protect the health and safety of crew and passengers during space weather events4 7#b7 ,office of ,science and ,technology ,policy ,the ,director of the ,office of ,science and ,technology ,policy shall-- 7,a7 coordinate the development and implementation of ,federal ,government activities to improve the ,nation's ability to prepare1 avoid1 mitigate1 respond to1 and recover from potentially devastating impacts of space weather events2 and 7,b7 coordinate the activities of the space weather interagency working group established under subsection 7c74 7c7 ,space weather interagency working group ,in order to continue coordination of executive branch efforts to understand1 prepare1 coordinate1 and plan for space weather1 the ,national ,science and ,technology ,council shall establish an interagency working group on space weather4 7d7 ,membership ,in order to understand and respond to the adverse effects of space weather1 the interagency working group established under subsection 7c7 shall leverage capabilities across participating ,federal agencies1 including-- 7#a7 the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration2 7#b7 the ,national ,aeronautics and ,space ,administration2 7#c7 the ,national ,science ,foundation2 7#d7 the ,department of ,defense2 7#e7 the ,department of the ,interior2 7#f7 the ,department of ,homeland ,security2 7#g7 the ,department of ,energy2 7#h7 the ,department of ,transportation1 including the ,federal ,aviation ,administration2 and 7#i7 the ,department of ,state4 7e7 ,interagency agreements 7#a7 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that the interagency collaboration between the ,national ,aeronautics and ,space ,administration and the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration on terrestrial weather observations provides-- 7,a7 an effective mechanism for improving weather and climate data collection while avoiding unnecessary duplication of capabilities across ,federal agencies2 and 7,b7 an agency collaboration model that could benefit space weather observations4 7#b7 ,interagency agreements ,the ,administrator of the ,national ,aeronautics and ,space ,administration and the ,administrator of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration shall enter into one or more interagency agreements providing for cooperation and collaboration in the development of space weather spacecraft1 instruments1 and technologies in accordance with this chapter4 #fjgjb4 ,observations and forecasting 7a7 ,policy ,it is the policy of the ,united ,states to establish and sustain a baseline capability for space weather observations4 7b7 ,integrated strategy 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,director of the ,office of ,science and ,technology ,policy1 in coordination with the ,administrator of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration1 the ,administrator of the ,national ,aeronautics and ,space ,administration1 the ,director of the ,national ,science ,foundation1 and the ,secretary of ,defense1 and in consultation with the academic and commercial communities1 shall develop an integrated strategy for solar and solar wind observations beyond the lifetime of current assets1 that considers-- 7,a7 the provision of solar wind measurements and other measurements essential to space weather forecasting2 and 7,b7 the provision of solar and space weather measurements important for scientific purposes4 7#b7 ,considerations ,in developing the strategy under paragraph 7#a71 the ,director of the ,office of ,science and ,technology ,policy shall consider small satellite options1 hosted payloads1 commercial options1 international options1 and prize authority4 7c7 ,critical observations ,in order to sustain current space-based observational capabilities1 the ,administrator of the ,national ,aeronautics and ,space ,administration shall-- 7#a7 in cooperation with the ,european ,space ,agency1 maintain operations of the ,solar and ,heliospheric ,observatory_/,large ,angle and ,spectrometric ,coronagraph 7referred to in this section as ,,soho_/,,lasco7 for as long as the satellite continues to deliver quality observations2 and 7#b7 prioritize the reception of ,,lasco data4 7d7 ,additional capability for solar imaging 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,administrator of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration shall secure reliable secondary capability for near real-time coronal mass ejection imagery4 7#b7 ,options ,the ,administrator of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration1 in coordination with the ,secretary of ,defense and the ,administrator of the ,national ,aeronautics and ,space ,administration1 shall develop options to build and deploy one or more instruments for near real-time coronal mass ejection imagery4 7#c7 ,considerations ,in developing options under paragraph 7#b71 the ,administrator of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration shall consider commercial solutions1 prize authority1 academic and international partnerships1 microsatellites1 ground-based instruments1 and opportunities to deploy the instrument or instruments as a secondary payload on an upcoming planned launch4 7#d7 ,costs ,in implementing paragraph 7#a71 the ,administrator of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration shall prioritize a cost-effective solution4 7#e7 ,operational planning ,the ,administrator of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration shall develop an operational contingency plan to provide continuous space weather forecasting in the event of a ,,soho_/,,lasco failure4 7#f7 ,briefing ,not later than #abj days after the date of enactment of the ,space ,weather ,research and ,forecasting ,act1 the ,administrator of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration shall provide a briefing to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,science1 ,space1 and ,technology of the ,house of ,representatives on the options for building and deploying the instrument or instruments described in paragraph 7#b7 and the operational contingency plan developed under paragraph 7#e74 7e7 ,follow-,on space-,based observations ,the ,administrator of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration1 in coordination with the ,secretary of ,defense1 shall develop requirements and a plan for follow-on space-based observations for operational purposes1 in accordance with the integrated strategy developed under subsection 7b74 7f7 ,report ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of the ,space ,weather ,research and ,forecasting ,act1 the ,director of the ,office of ,science and ,technology ,policy shall submit to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,science1 ,space1 and ,technology of the ,house of ,representatives a report on the integrated strategy under subsection 7b71 including the plans for follow-on space-based observations under subsection 7e74 7g7 ,ground-,based observations ,the ,national ,science ,foundation1 the ,air ,force1 and where practicable in support of the ,air ,force1 the ,navy shall each-- 7#a7 maintain and improve1 as necessary and advisable1 ground-based observations of the ,sun in order to help meet the priorities identified in section #fjgjc7;a72 and 7#b7 provide space weather data by means of its set of ground-based facilities1 including radars1 lidars1 magnetometers1 radio receivers1 aurora and airglow imagers1 spectrometers1 interferometers1 and solar observatories4 7h7 ,ground-,based observations data ,the ,national ,science ,foundation shall-- 7#a7 provide key data streams from the platforms described in subsection 7g7 for research and to support space weather model development2 7#b7 develop experimental models for scientific purposes2 and 7#c7 support the transition of the experimental models to operations where appropriate4 #fjgjc4 ,research and technology 7a7 ,user needs 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,administrator of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration1 the ,secretary of the ,air ,force1 and where practicable in support of the ,air ,force1 the ,secretary of the ,navy1 in conjunction with the heads of other relevant ,federal agencies1 shall conduct a comprehensive survey to identify and prioritize the needs of space weather forecast users1 including space weather data and space weather forecast data needed to improve services and inform research priorities and technology needs4 7#b7 ,contents ,in conducting the comprehensive survey under paragraph 7#a71 the ,administrator of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration1 the ,secretary of the ,air ,force1 and where practicable in support of the ,air ,force1 the ,secretary of the ,navy1 at a minimum1 shall-- 7,a7 consider the goals for forecast lead time1 accuracy1 coverage1 timeliness1 data rate1 and data quality for space weather observations2 7,b7 identify opportunities to address the needs identified under paragraph 7#a7 through collaborations with academia1 the private sector1 and the international community2 7,c7 identify opportunities for new technologies and instrumentation to address the needs identified under paragraph 7#a72 and 7,d7 publish a report on the findings under subparagraphs 7,a7 through 7,c74 7#c7 ,publication ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of the ,space ,weather ,research and ,forecasting ,act1 the ,administrator of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration1 the ,secretary of the ,air ,force1 and where practicable in support of the ,air ,force1 the ,secretary of the ,navy1 shall-- 7,a7 make the results of the comprehensive survey publicly available2 and 7,b7 notify the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,science1 ,space1 and ,technology of the ,house of ,representatives of the publication under subparagraph 7,a74 7b7 ,research activities 7#a7 ,basic research ,the ,director of the ,national ,science ,foundation1 ,administrator of the ,national ,aeronautics and ,space ,administration1 and ,secretary of ,defense shall continue to carry out basic research activities on heliophysics1 geospace science1 and space weather and support competitive1 merit-based1 peer-reviewed proposals for research1 modeling1 and monitoring of space weather and its impacts1 including science goals outlined in ,solar and ,space ,physics ,decadal surveys conducted by the ,national ,academy of ,sciences4 7#b7 ,multidisciplinary research 7,a7 ,findings ,congress finds that the multidisciplinary nature of solar and space physics creates funding challenges that require coordination across scientific disciplines and ,federal agencies4 7,b7 ,multidisciplinary research ,the ,director of the ,national ,science ,foundation1 the ,administrator of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration1 and the ,administrator of the ,national ,aeronautics and ,space ,administration shall pursue multidisciplinary research in subjects that further our understanding of solar physics1 space physics1 and space weather4 7,c7 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that the ,administrator of the ,national ,aeronautics and ,space ,administration and ,director of the ,national ,science ,foundation should support competitively awarded ,heliophysics ,science ,centers4 7c7 ,science missions ,the ,administrator of the ,national ,aeronautics and ,space ,administration shall seek to implement missions that meet the science objectives identified in ,solar and ,space ,physics ,decadal surveys conducted by the ,national ,academy of ,sciences4 7d7 ,research to operations 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,administrator of the ,national ,aeronautics and ,space ,administration1 the ,director of the ,national ,science ,foundation1 the ,administrator of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration1 the ,secretary of the ,air ,force1 and where practicable in support of the ,air ,force1 the ,secretary of the ,navy1 shall-- 7,a7 develop a formal mechanism to transition ,national ,aeronautics and ,space ,administration1 ,national ,science ,foundation1 ,air ,force1 and ,navy research findings1 models1 and capabilities1 as appropriate1 to ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration and ,department of ,defense space weather operational forecasting centers2 and 7,b7 enhance coordination between research modeling centers and forecasting centers4 7#b7 ,operational needs ,the ,administrator of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration and the ,secretary of ,defense1 in coordination with the ,administrator of the ,national ,aeronautics and ,space ,administration and the ,director of the ,national ,science ,foundation1 shall develop a formal mechanism to communicate the operational needs of space weather forecasters to the research community4 7e7 ,technology development 7#a7 ,findings ,congress finds that observations and measurements closer to the ,sun and advanced instrumentation would provide for more advanced warning of space weather disturbances 7as defined in section #c of the ,space ,weather ,research and ,forecasting ,act74 7#b7 ,technology and instrumentation development ,the ,administrator of the ,national ,aeronautics and ,space ,administration and the ,director of the ,national ,science ,foundation shall support the development of technologies and instrumentation to improve space weather forecasting lead-time and accuracy to meet the needs identified by the ,administrator of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration4 #fjgjd4 ,space weather data 7a7 ,in general ,the ,administrator of the ,national ,aeronautics and ,space ,administration and the ,director of the ,national ,science ,foundation shall-- 7#a7 make space weather related data obtained for scientific research purposes available to space weather forecasters and operations centers2 and 7#b7 support model development and model applications to space weather forecasting4 7b7 ,research ,the ,administrator of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration shall make space weather related data obtained from operational forecasting available for scientific research4 4 7b7 ,technical and conforming amendments 7#a7 ,repeal of section #hji ,section #hji of the ,national ,aeronautics and ,space ,administration ,authorization ,act of #bjaj 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ahchh7 and the item relating to that section in the table of contents under section #a7;b7 of that ,act 7#abd ,stat4 #bhjf7 are repealed4 7#b7 ,table of chapters ,the table of chapters of title #ea1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding after the item relating to chapter #fje the following3 #fjg4 ,space weather#fjgja 4 #c4 ,space weather metrics 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,space weather disturbance ,the term space weather disturbance includes geo-electric fields1 ionizing radiation1 ionospheric disturbances1 solar radio bursts1 and upper atmospheric expansion4 7#b7 ,space weather benchmark ,the term space weather benchmark means the physical characteristics and conditions describing the nature1 frequency1 and intensity of space weather disturbances4 7b7 ,benchmarks 7#a7 ,preliminary ,not later than #ij days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,space ,weather ,interagency ,working ,group1 established under section #fjgja of title #ea1 ,united ,states ,code1 in consultation with academic and commercial experts1 shall-- 7,a7 assess existing data1 the historical record1 models1 and peer-reviewed studies on space weather2 and 7,b7 develop preliminary benchmarks1 based on current scientific understanding and the historical record1 for measuring solar disturbances4 7#b7 ,final ,not later than #ah months after the date the preliminary benchmarks are developed under paragraph 7#a71 the ,space ,weather ,interagency ,working ,group shall publish final benchmarks4 7#c7 ,review ,the ,administrator of the ,national ,aeronautics and ,space ,administration shall contract with the ,national ,academy of ,sciences to review the benchmarks established under paragraph 7#b74 7#d7 ,revisions ,the ,space ,weather ,interagency ,working ,group shall update and revise the final benchmarks under paragraph 7#b71 as necessary1 based on-- 7,a7 the results of the review under paragraph 7#c72 7,b7 any significant new data or advances in scientific understanding that become available2 or 7,c7 the evolving needs of entities impacted by solar disturbances4 #d4 ,protection of critical infrastructure 7a7 ,in general ,the ,administrator of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration1 in consultation with the heads of other relevant ,federal agencies1 shall provide information about space weather hazards to the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security for purposes of this section4 7b7 ,critical infrastructure ,the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security1 in consultation with sector-specific agencies1 the ,administrator of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration1 and the heads of other relevant agencies1 shall-- 7#a7 include1 in meeting national critical infrastructure reporting requirements1 an assessment of the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to space weather events1 as described by the space weather benchmarks under section #c2 and 7#b7 support critical infrastructure providers in managing the risks and impacts associated with space weather4 7c7 ,prohibition on new regulatory authority ,nothing in subsection 7b7 may be construed to grant the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security any authority to promulgate regulations that was not in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this ,act4 7d7 ,definition of sector-,specific agency ,in this section1 the term sector-specific agency has the meaning given the term in ,presidential ,policy ,directive-#ba of ,february #ab1 #bjac 7,critical ,infrastructure ,security and ,resilience71 or any successor4 #e4 ,protection of national security assets 7a7 ,in general ,the ,national ,security ,council1 in consultation with the ,office of the ,director of ,national ,intelligence1 the ,secretary of ,defense1 and the heads of other relevant ,federal agencies1 shall-- 7#a7 assess the vulnerability of the national security community to space weather events1 as described by the space weather benchmarks under section #c2 and 7#b7 develop national security mechanisms to protection national security assets from space weather threats4 7b7 ,cooperation ,the ,secretary of ,defense1 in consultation with the heads of other relevant ,federal agencies1 shall provide information about space weather hazards to the ,national ,security ,council1 ,director of ,national ,intelligence1 and heads of ,defense ,agencies for purposes of this section4 #f4 ,ensuring the safety of civil aviation 7a7 ,in general ,the ,administrator of the ,federal ,aviation ,administration1 in consultation with the heads of other relevant ,federal agencies1 shall-- 7#a7 assess the safety implications and vulnerability of the national airspace system by space weather events1 as described by the space weather benchmarks under section #c2 7#b7 assess methods to mitigate the safety implications and effects of space weather on aviation communication systems1 aircraft navigation systems1 satellite and ground-based navigation systems1 and potential health effects of radiation exposure2 and 7#c7 assess options for incorporating space weather into operational training for pilots1 cabin crew1 dispatchers1 air traffic controllers1 meteorologists1 and engineers4 7b7 ,space weather communication ,the ,administrator of the ,federal ,aviation ,administration1 in consultation with the heads of other relevant ,federal agencies1 shall develop methods to increase the interaction between the aviation community and the space weather research and service provider community4 ,passed the ,senate ,may #b1 #bjag4,secretary