WASHINGTON - Subcommittee on National Security Ranking Member Glenn Grothman (R-Wis.) opened today’s hearing titled “Defending the U.S. Electric Grid Against Cyber Threats" by emphasizing cyber-attacks are becoming more frequent, particularly from state sponsored groups in Russia and China. He noted any attack or extended disruptions by foreign actors pose significant risks to all Americans and threatens the integrity of our national defense.
In his opening statement, Subcommittee Ranking Member Grothman highlighted the importance of the federal government and private sector’s responsibility to identify and disrupt all potential cyber-attacks effectively and efficiently. He concluded by stating other critical security issues remain unaddressed by Committee Democrats, who have failed to conduct meaningful oversight over the Biden Administration’s ongoing border crisis, the origins of COVID-19, and more.
Below are his remarks as prepared
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for holding this hearing.
This is an issue with true far-reaching repercussions.
An attack on the energy grid would be devastating for Americans and our national security.
Hours without power causes chaos, but extended disruptions could pose serious consequences to our national defense.
Cyber-attacks are growing in frequency, particularly from state sponsored groups in Russia and China.
It would appear to the casual observer that these actors are testing us.
Testing our defenses, our response, and our reaction.
Our defense must effectively and efficiently identify and disrupt potential attacks.
Our response must harness the powers of government and the private sector to mitigate the fallout.
Our reaction must be swift and strong to deter future attacks.
Each of our witnesses plays a vital role in our nation’s cyber defense.
This hearing is a welcome opportunity to hear from experts and learn more about how our government operates in this space.
This is a balancing act between government authority and operation of private industry.
The answer is not more unilateral, costly regulations.
The answer lies within the current authorities available to you and frankly, your ability to work with each other.
I hope we can hear more about your collaboration today.
In closing, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the critical security issues that this committee is not investigating, like:
The origins of COVID-19;
The Chinese biological weapons program;
A nuclear Iran and another botched Iran Deal; and
President Biden’s border crisis that poses security, humanitarian, and public health concerns.
So far, this fiscal year, more than one million illegal immigrants have been apprehended crossing the southern border.
That is more than double last year and already surpassed both 2019 and 2018.
Nearly 900,000 of those crossings took place after President Biden took office.
These numbers don’t even include got-aways, or those that go undetected by Border Patrol, which is currently estimated to be around 1,000 illegal immigrants per day.
What is further disturbing is the vast number of illegal immigrants President Biden has been releasing into our country since he took office-well over 159,000 between CBP releases and HHS discharges of unaccompanied children to sponsors within the United States.
This Committee held hearing after hearing during the Trump Administration about conditions at the border. I wonder why Democrats have stopped conducting oversight?
I hope, Mr. Chairman, we can work together to investigate these issues.
I yield back.
