Bills Introduced – 2-24-21

Yesterday with both the House and Senate in session, there were 117 bills introduced. Of those bills, three may receive additional coverage in this blog:

HR 1229 To amend title 18, United States Code, to reauthorize and expand the National Threat Assessment Center of the Department of Homeland Security. Rep. Deutch, Theodore E. [D-FL-22] 

HR 1251 To support United States international cyber diplomacy, and for other purposes. Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10]

S 391 A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to reauthorize and expand the National Threat Assessment Center of the Department of Homeland Security.  Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA] 

I will be watching the two NTAC bills for language that addresses cybersecurity or chemical security issues. I suspect that these will be companion bills with essentially identical language.

I will be watching HR 1251 for language and definitions that are inclusive of control system security concerns.

 

Because many readers of this blog are intimately connected with the energy industry, I want to mention in passing S 398 that was introduced yesterday by Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA]. The bill would amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to clarify that utility line technicians qualify as emergency response providers. I have not delved into what rights and benefits that this would provide to these brave and selfless folks that support our communities through all sorts of unpleasantness, but I am sure that it will not be enough. Kennedy is not a member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to which this bill was assigned, so a letter writing campaign to Sen Peters (D,MI), the Chair of that Committee, to urge the Committee’s consideration of the bill might be in order.