HR 5868 Introduced – Water Cybersecurity

Last month Rep Wilson (D,FL) introduced HR 5868, the Water Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2025. The bill would amend 42 U.S.C. 300i–2(g) to rewrite subparagraph (F) to add protecting from and responding to cyberattacks as acceptable uses grants under the Technical Assistance and Grant program. It would also extend the authorization for that grant program through 2031. No change was made to the $25 million per year authorization for that grant program.

This bill is nearly identical to HR 10483, the Water Cybersecurity Enhancement Act, that was introduced by then Rep Gallego in December of 2024. No action was taken on that bill in the 118^th Congress.

Moving Forward

Neither Wilson nor any of her eight cosponsors are members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee to which this bill was assigned for consideration. This means that there is little chance that this bill will be considered in Committee. With no new funding provided, I see nothing in the bill that would engender any organized opposition to the bill. I suspect that it would receive some level of bipartisan support were it to be considered, probably sufficient support to move to the floor of the House under the suspension of the rules process.

Commentary

The problem with bills like this is that when they expand the potential use of a grant program without an increase in the funding base, they dilute the support that is available to the covered community. Any money given out in grants for cybersecurity support is taken away from the other legitimate needs of other community water systems.

I understand that there is little chance that a bill expanding the funding for a grant program would have little chance in passing in the 119^th Congress. And there is even less chance that the Administration would expend the added funds. Still, failing to recognize that this bill would have little cyber impact because of the dilution of funds will stop law makers from looking for providing additional means of support to public water systems.