Review – S 3251 Introduced - State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program

Back in November Sen Hassan (D,NH) introduced S 3251, the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program Reauthorization Act. The bill would amend 6 USC 665g, State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program, to extend the program through September 30^th, 2026 and authorize spending $300 million in FY 2026 for the program.

The recently passed CR, HR 5371, already extended the termination of that program to January 30^th, 2026, with the expectation that it would be further extended with whatever further spending bill is eventually passed in January. Earlier in November the House passed HR 5078, the PILLAR Act, that would extend the program through 2035.

Moving Forward

Hassan is a member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to which this bill was assigned for consideration. This means that there may be sufficient influence to see the bill considered in Committee. Maintaining the current spending limit, I see nothing in this bill that would engender organized opposition. I suspect that there would be substantial bipartisan support in the Committee for this bill.

There is, however, a major problem with moving this bill forward. Sen Paul (R,KY) is the Chair of the Homeland Security Committee. He has little use for grant programs in general, and CISA grant programs in particular. His opposition effectively kills any chance that the bill would be considered in Committee. And the same would hold true for HR 5078. Further, that opposition would stop any consideration of either bill on the floor of the Senate.

 

For more information on the provisions of this bill, including an expanded ‘Moving Forward’ section, see my article at CFSN Detailed Analysis - https://patrickcoyle.substack.com/p/s-3251-introduced-state-and-local - subscription required.