S 1800 Introduced – DOD Electric Grid Security

Last week Sen. Warren (D,MA) introduced S 1800, the Securing the Electric Grid to Protect Military Readiness Act of 2017. The bill is nearly identical to SA 867, Warren’s proposed amendment to HR 2810 on the same topic. It addresses efforts to protect the electrical distribution systems on military installations.

Moving Forward

Warren is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee to which this bill was referred for consideration. This means that she may have enough influence to have the Committee consider the bill.

I do not see anything in this bill that would engender any significant opposition. If the bill were to be considered it would be likely to pass with at least some bipartisan support.

Commentary

There is nothing in this bill that directly addresses cybersecurity concerns for the industrial control system associated with military power distribution systems. A lot of the language seems to be IT-centric (for example: “to deny access to or degrade, disrupt, or destroy an information and communications technology system or network” {§2(c)(4)(A)} in the definition of ‘significant malicious cyber-enabled activities’).

I doubt that DOD would fail to address ICS security issues in the required studies and reports, but it would certainly be helpful if the bill specifically addressed requirements for ICS security considerations. I suspect that the failure to do so reflects a continued failure on the part of Congress to recognize the different issues involved with ICS security.

Bills Introduced – 09-12-17

With both the House and Senate in session there were 31 bills introduced yesterday. Of those, one may be of specific interest to readers of this blog:

S 1800 A bill to require a report on significant security risks of the national electric grid and the potential effect of any such security risks on the readiness of the Armed Forces. Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]

I suspect that this bill will be very similar (if not identical to) the amendment Warren proposed for HR 2810 earlier this week.

Bills Introduced – 07-16-15

There were 54 bills introduced in the House and Senate yesterday as the law makers headed home for the weekend. Of those bills three may be of specific interest to readers of this blog:

HR 3093 To direct the Secretary of Transportation to make certain changes in the implementation of the Compliance, Safety, Accountability program of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and for... Rep. Gibbs, Bob [R-OH-7]

HR 3102 To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to reform programs of the Transportation Security Administration, streamline transportation security regulations, and for other purposes. Rep. Katko, John [R-NY-24]

S 1800 An original bill making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2016, and for other... Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS]

I will only be mentioning HR 3093 again if it contains provisions that would specifically affect chemical transportation.

TSA reform typically affects passenger air operations as this is where most (including congresscritters) people interact with TSA. I will only mention HR 3102 if it includes surface transportation changes that effect chemical transportation.

S 1800 (like HR 3049 earlier this week) will only be of interest here if it contains cybersecurity language (in the bill or report) pertaining to FDA devices.