HR 3855 Introduced – DOD Grid Security

Last week, Rep. Rosen (D,NV) introduced HR 3855, the Securing the Electric Grid to Protect Military Readiness Act of 2017. The bill is a companion measure to S 1800; identical bills submitted in each house of congress to allow for parallel processing in committee or a way around a committee road block in the other house.

Both Rosen and one of her three cosponsors {Rep. Stefanik, (R,NY)} are members of the House Armed Services Committee to which this bill was referred for consideration. This means that this bill could be considered in Committee. Again, as with S 1800, I do not see anything in this bill which would attract any significant opposition to its passage if it were considered. The only question is if the House or Senate leadership finds it expedient to move either of these bills forward; a question that only time will answer.

Bills Introduced – 09-27-17

Yesterday with both the House and Senate in session there were 32 bills introduced. Of those, two may be of specific interest to readers of this blog:

HR 3855 To require a report on significant security risks of the national electric grid and the potential effect of such security risks on the readiness of the Armed Forces. Rep. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV-3] 

S 1872 A bill to authorize the programs of the Transportation Security Administration relating to transportation security, and for other purposes. Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]

I suspect that HR 3855 is a companion bill to S 1800. Companion bills are identical bills introduced in both houses of congress to allow for parallel processing in the bill consideration process. Alternatively, when a bill is stalled or blocked in committee in one house of congress, the introduction of a companion bill in the other can restart the consideration process.

S 1872 is one of those annual authorization bills that ‘must’ wend their way through the legislative process every year. I will watch this bill for chemical transportation security measures.