S 2333 Introduced – Grid Security

Last month Sen. Cantwell (D,WA) introduced S 2333, the Energy Cybersecurity Act of 2019. The bill would require the Department of Energy to address electric grid cybersecurity, resiliency and risk assessment issues. This bill is essentially identical to S 2444 from last session which was also introduced by Cantwell. No action was taken on the earlier bill.

Cantwell is still a senior member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to which this bill was assigned for consideration. That was not enough last session to ensure that the bill was considered in Committee. The problem remains the authorization for the expenditure of funds for the various programs in bill. It is unlikely that the new budget agreement reached just before the Senate left for summer recess will change the funding situation.

Bills Introduced – 07-30-19

On Tuesday with the Senate in Washington and the House meeting in proforma session, there were 94 bills introduced. Three of those bills may receive additional coverage here in this blog:

HR 4091 To amend the America COMPETES Act to reauthorize the ARPA-E program, and for other purposes. Rep. Johnson, Eddie Bernice [D-TX-30]

S 2318 A bill to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish a continuous diagnostics and mitigation program in the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency of the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes. Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]

S 2333 A bill to provide for enhanced energy grid security. Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA] 

I will be watching HR 4091 to see if it includes language specifically authorizing grid cybersecurity research programs.

I will be watching S 2318 to see if it includes authorization to provide CDM coverage to private sector critical infrastructure facilities.