Bipartisan Space Weather Research Bill Beneficial to Marshall Space Flight Center Passes U.S. House

Washington, DC— Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed by voice vote S. 881, the Promoting Research and Observations of Space Weather to Improve the Forecasting of Tomorrow Act (the PROSWIFT Act).  

S. 881 is sponsored by Senator Gary Peters of Michigan and it passed the Senate on July 27th. Congressman Mo Brooks (AL-05) teamed with Democrat sponsor Congressman Ed Perlmutter (CO-07) to pass H.R. 5260, a companion bill identical to S. 881, through the House Science, Space, and Technology committee in January, clearing the way for House consideration of Peter’s Senate bill.

S. 881 now heads to the President’s desk to await his signature.

The PROSWIFT Act seeks to enhance America’s scientific understanding of the potential consequences of severe space weather phenomena and establishes a forecasting regime for severe space weather events.

By way of background, though little understood, space weather is a collection of physical processes, beginning at the Sun with solar winds and ultimately affecting human activities on Earth and in Space.

Notably, Congressman Brooks ranks #2 out of 15 Republican members on the Science, Space, and Technology Committee.

Congressman Brooks spoke in favor of S. 881 on the House floor during debate.

Click the image above or HERE for video of

Congressman Brooks’ House Floor speech

“Space weather can cause great damage to our infrastructure and our economy, and we need to make sure we are all working together to have the best research and prediction capabilities possible,” said Rep. Ed Perlmutter (CO-07). “This legislation will better coordinate federal research investments with our operational forecasters who provide warnings to impacted industries and ensure our academic, international, and commercial partners are working hand in hand to improve space weather forecasting, including with some of the best laboratories and research institutions on space weather right here in Colorado.”

Text of Congressman Brooks’ remarks:

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

I support the Promoting Research and Observations of Space Weather to Improve the Forecasting of Tomorrow Act—called the PROSWIFT Act.

I thank Congressman Perlmutter for his leadership on this important issue and for working with me in the Science, Space, and Technology Committee to advance this Senate bill which is identical to the House version we have work so long and hard on.

The PROSWIFT Act advances America’s understanding of potentially severe weather events and damaging consequences.

Space weather is a collection of physical processes beginning at the Sun with solar winds and ultimately affecting human activities on Earth and in Space.

Humanity needs better understanding of these solar winds and their interaction with Earth’s atmosphere.

The PROSWIFT Act is a step towards that better understanding.

Alabama’s Marshall Space Flight Center scientists and engineers are at the forefront of space weather research.

Under the PROSWIFT Act, their enhanced research will advance our understanding of, and ability to forecast, space weather.

The PROSWIFT Act recognizes that space weather not only impacts us on Earth, it can and will impact us in deep space exploration.

For example, before we launch NASA’s Artemis manned Moon missions that pave the way to Mars missions, it is best and we should better understand how space weather phenomena impacts life in space, satellites, and other space instrumentation.

It is critical that we properly forecast space weather and prepare for and protect astronauts from the dangers of solar radiation.

I want to thank my colleague, Mr. Perlmutter, for his leadership on space weather and his partnership on the PROSWIFT Act.

I encourage my colleagues to vote for S. 881 and send it to President Trump to sign.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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