HR 7266 Passed in House – Utility Cybersecurity Grants

This afternoon, the House took up HR 7266, the Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Act, under the suspension of the rules. After about 10 minutes of debate, the House passed the bill on a voice vote. The bill modifies and continues the authorization for the existing Rural And Municipal Utility Advances Cybersecurity Grant And Technical Assistance Program was authorized in 2021 by §40124 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (PL 117-58, 135 STAT 953). No annual authorization amount was set by the bill. 

The bill now goes to the Senate where it will not be politically important enough to be considered under regular order. There is a chance that the bill could be approved under the unanimous consent process, particularly since no authorization amount has been established. Another route forward could be to include the bill’s language in the EWR spending bill.