116th Congress
Promoting Research and Observations
of Space Weather to Improve the Forecasting of Tomorrow (PROSWIFT) Act
Purpose
A bill to improve understanding and forecasting of space weather events, and for other purposes.
Summary of Selected Provisions
Provisions in final bill
- Delineates the responsibilities for space weather-related research, forecasting, preparedness, and response among the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Science Foundation, NASA, Department of Defense, Department of Interior, and the Federal Aviation Administration
- Directs the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and the National Science and Technology Council to coordinate relevant agency activities
- Requires NOAA to secure reliable backup capabilities for “near real-time coronal mass ejection imagery, solar wind, solar imaging, coronal imagery, and other relevant observations required to provide space weather forecasts”
- Directs NOAA to consider options for building on baseline observation capabilities, including “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”
- Authorizes NOAA to establish a pilot program for purchasing space weather data from commercial entities
- Creates a 15 member space weather advisory group, with membership split evenly between representatives from the academic, commercial, and end-user communities
Primary Sponsors
Co-sponsors by Party
R
1
D
0
I
0
Actions
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10/21/2020Became law
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09/16/2020Passed by House
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07/27/2020Passed by Senate
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03/26/2019Introduced in Senate