(Washington, D.C.) – Yesterday, three bipartisan bills from the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee passed the House under suspension. These important pieces of legislation will strengthen America’s leadership in emerging scientific fields, enhance wildfire response through cutting-edge technologies, and advance innovation in forecasting and emergency operations.
"Yesterday's House passage of the ACERO Act, the Small Business Artificial Intelligence Advancement Act, and the ASCEND Act reflects our commitment to ensuring American innovation delivers real-world results," said Chairman Brian Babin. "From improving aerial wildfire response with advanced aircraft and real-time data, to helping small businesses harness the power of artificial intelligence, to strengthening NASA’s partnership with the commercial space sector through expanded satellite data acquisition, these bills align cutting-edge technology with practical national needs. I appreciate Ranking Member Lofgren’s partnership in advancing these bipartisan measures, which strengthen our economy, enhance public safety, and reinforce America’s leadership in science and space."
"The passage of these three bills is a testament to this Committee’s commitment to bipartisan productivity,” said Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren. "These bills will use innovation to improve disaster response, bolster NASA’s Earth science research goals, and support small businesses as they navigate the AI era. The Science Committee has always been at the forefront of burgeoning technology and will continue to lead by example as a beacon of bipartisanship in the House."
Legislation Passed:
This bill directs NASA to use its ACERO project to improve aerial wildfire response through advanced aircraft, real-time data sharing, and coordinated multi-agency operations.
H.R. 3679, Small Business Artificial Intelligence Advancement Act
This bill directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology to develop resources for small businesses to help them better understand and utilize artificial intelligence systems.
This bill directs the NASA Administrator to establish a commercial satellite data acquisition program under NASA’s Science Mission Directorate to satisfy the scientific, operational, and educational requirements of the Administration.