Bills Introduced – 2-21-20

With just the House meeting in proforma session yesterday there were 25 bills introduced. Of these bills one may see additional coverage in this blog:

HR 5942 To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish a DHS Cybersecurity On-the-Job Training and Employment Apprentice Program, and for other purposes. Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18]

I will be watching this bill for definitions and specific language that would ensure that the program will address control system security education.

Bills Introduced – 05-14-19

Yesterday with both the House and Senate in session there were 102 bills introduced. Three of these bills may receive additional coverage in this blog:

HR 2705 To establish a Water Infrastructure Trust Fund, and for other purposes. Rep. Blumenauer, Earl [D-OR-3] 

HR 2721 To establish a grant program within the Department of Labor to support the creation, implementation, and expansion of registered apprenticeship programs in cybersecurity. Rep. Lee, Susie [D-NV-3]

S 1466 A bill to establish a grant program within the Department of Labor to support the creation, implementation, and expansion of registered apprenticeship programs in cybersecurity. Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV]

I will be watching the water infrastructure bill to see if it includes language specifically allowing for fund expenditures for chemical security measures or cybersecurity measures; I am not holding my breath.

The other two bills are probably companion measures (identical language). I will be watching them for definitions and language that would specifically include control system cybersecurity apprenticeship programs.

Bills Introduced – 09-12-18

Yesterday with both the House and Senate in session, there were 48 bills introduced. Of those three may be of specific interest to readers of this blog:

HR 6776 Making appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, and for other purposes. Rep. Yoder, Kevin [R-KS-3]

HR 6791 To establish a grant program within the Department of Labor to support the creation, implementation, and expansion of registered apprenticeship programs in cybersecurity. Rep. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV-3]

S 3437 A bill to establish a Federal rotational cyber workforce program for the Federal cyber workforce. Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI] 

Yes, the last spending bill has finally been introduced. Obviously, this will never make it to the floor of the House, much less the Senate. It may, however, form the base for the final spending bill that will be considered after the election.

Both HR 6791 and S 3437 are at base cybersecurity workforce measures. I will be watching both of these bills for the definitions to see if the bills specifically include industrial control system security folks.

On a lighter note: Election season is here (in case you had not noticed) and we are seeing legislators use the power of proposed legislation to support their campaigns. Usually this takes the form of proposing legislation supporting part of their electoral base. These bills are never really intended to be considered and passed; they just allow the proposer to point to the bill and say; “Look, I am trying to do something about…. Send me back for another term to be able to continue.”

Yesterday we saw the introduction of a resolution that clearly meets that criteria; H Con Res 135; Requiring Members of the House of Representatives and the Senate to participate in random drug testing. Rep Higgins (R,LA) introduced this resolution. It should certainly resonate with his constituents that have mandatory drug testing in their work place.