The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“ENERGY CYBERSECURITY UNIVERSITY LEADERSHIP ACT OF 2022” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Energy was published in the in the House section section on pages H7090-H7091 on July 26.
The Department oversees energy policies and is involved in how the US handles nuclear programs. Downsizing the Federal Government, a project aimed at lowering taxes and boosting federal efficiency, said the Department's misguided energy regulations have caused large losses to consumers for decades.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
ENERGY CYBERSECURITY UNIVERSITY LEADERSHIP ACT OF 2022
Mr. BEYER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7569) to direct the Secretary of Energy to establish a program to provide financial assistance to graduate students and postdoctoral researchers pursuing certain courses of study relating to cybersecurity and energy infrastructure.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 7569
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Energy Cybersecurity University Leadership Act of 2022''.
SEC. 2. ENERGY CYBERSECURITY UNIVERSITY LEADERSHIP PROGRAM.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) Addressing cybersecurity vulnerabilities in energy- related critical infrastructure after an intrusion occurs is inefficient, ineffective, and costly.
(2) Integrating cybersecurity considerations into the research, design, and development of energy infrastructure represents a cost-effective approach to enhancing the security, resilience, and reliability of the electric grid, oil and natural gas pipelines, and other energy distribution, transmission, and generation systems.
(3) Successfully employing the approach outlined in paragraph (2) as a guiding principle for the Department's energy infrastructure activities will require a diverse, inclusive, and highly skilled workforce which possesses energy-specific cybersecurity expertise and familiarity with associated research, development, and demonstration needs.
(4) A dedicated science scholarship program at the Department for graduate students and postdoctoral researchers studying energy-specific cybersecurity disciplines could help address the challenges stated in paragraphs (1) through (3).
(b) Program.--
(1) Establishment.--The Secretary of Energy shall establish an Energy Cybersecurity University Leadership Program
(referred to in this section as the ``Program'') to carry out the activities described in paragraph (2).
(2) Program activities.--The Secretary shall--
(A) provide financial assistance, on a competitive basis, for scholarships, fellowships, and research and development projects at institutions of higher education to support graduate students and postdoctoral researchers pursuing a course of study that integrates cybersecurity competencies within disciplines associated with energy infrastructure needs;
(B) provide graduate students and postdoctoral researchers supported under the Program with research traineeship experiences at National Laboratories and utilities; and
(C) conduct outreach to historically Black colleges and universities, Tribal Colleges or Universities, and minority- serving institutions.
(c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report on the development and implementation of the Program.
(d) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the Department of Energy.
(2) Historically black college and university.--The term
``historically Black college and university'' has the meaning given the term ``part B institution'' in section 322 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061).
(3) Institution of higher education.--The term
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given such term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).
(4) Minority-serving institution.--The term ``minority- serving institution'' means an eligible institution under section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)).
(5) National laboratory.--The term ``National Laboratory'' has the meaning given such term in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801).
(6) Tribal college or university.--The term ``Tribal College or University'' has the meaning given such term in section 316(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c(b)).
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Beyer) and the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Lucas) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia.
General Leave
Mr. BEYER. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 7569, the bill now under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Virginia?
There was no objection.
Mr. BEYER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7569, the Energy Cybersecurity University Leadership Act of 2022.
This bill authorizes the Secretary of Energy to establish a program to support graduate students and postdoctoral researchers pursuing coursework at the intersection of cybersecurity and energy infrastructure.
In doing so, the bill aims to empower the Department of Energy to train a new generation of scientists and engineers who can design and develop energy infrastructure systems with cybersecurity considerations from the very start.
In addition, to financial assistance for scholarships, fellowships, and research projects, awardees will be provided with research traineeships at national laboratories and utilities to gain practical, hands-on experience with developing new tools and technology.
Furthermore, the bill explicitly encourages the Department to leverage this program as a tool for diversifying the high-skilled workforce by expanding outreach to historically Black colleges and universities, Tribal colleges and universities, and minority-serving institutions.
In sum, this bill represents a necessary and fundamental change from our current approach to securing our infrastructure, where cybersecurity solutions are retroactively applied only after attack has actually occurred.
I thank Representative Ross for introducing this thoughtful legislation. I urge all my colleagues to support H.R. 7569.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LUCAS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7569, the Energy Cybersecurity University Leadership Act.
Broadly, this bill is meant to expand the cybersecurity workforce for our energy sector. But before I explain how it will do that, I will impress upon my colleagues why this is necessary.
Our energy sector is facing more threats now than ever before. Russia's attack on Ukraine has heightened threats to our infrastructure, and our liquefied natural gas industry has been the target of numerous cyberattacks recently.
The FBI has also been issuing warnings about credible threats to our energy infrastructure. In addition to staying vigilant now, we need to prepare ourselves for a future in which threats like these continue to grow. The way we do this is by building our energy sector cybersecurity workforce. This bill does just that with a three-pronged approach.
First, it encourages further study in this field by creating a program at the Department of Energy that provides financial assistance to graduate students and post-docs who are working on cybersecurity and energy infrastructure.
Second, it provides energy cybersecurity training through traineeships at our national labs and utilities, giving students practical skills and experience to bring to the workforce.
Third, it ensures that we have access to the broadest possible range of potential cybersecurity experts by conducting outreach to historically Black colleges and universities, Tribal colleges and universities, and minority-serving institutions.
Taken together, these three provisions in this bill will expand and improve our energy cybersecurity workforce and help us protect our critical infrastructure from growing threats.
I thank my colleague, Representative Ross, for introducing this important legislation, and Representative Carey for joining her as the Republican lead on this bipartisan effort. It deserves our full support.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BEYER. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Ross).
Ms. ROSS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7569, the Energy Cybersecurity University Leadership Act.
As all Members know, the United States has witnessed an alarming rise in cybersecurity threats and attacks against our energy infrastructure. My home State of North Carolina is no exception.
Just over a year ago, a disastrous cyberattack on the Colonial Pipeline caused the company to halt all pipeline operations, leading to panic-buying of gasoline and diesel fuels across my home State. Roughly two-thirds of North Carolina's gas stations ran out of fuel, including over 70 percent of gas stations in Raleigh, the largest city in my district.
Our constituents rely on dependable energy sources for their lives and their livelihoods, and we cannot afford continued exposures to these types of attacks.
The Energy Cybersecurity University Leadership Act, a bipartisan bill I co-led with Congressman Carey, will help address this vulnerability.
Our bill will confront growing cyber threats against our country's critical energy infrastructure by making real investments in a strong and diverse workforce that is ready to meet the challenges we face.
It will provide financial assistance to support graduate students studying the convergence of cybersecurity and energy infrastructure, in addition to providing hands-on training and experience at our national laboratories and utilities.
It will also expand the Department of Energy's outreach to HBCUs, minority-serving institutions, and Tribal colleges.
I represent much of the Research Triangle, home to institutions and universities that are propelling our Nation's innovation in cybersecurity, as well as clean energy.
From NC State to Shaw, to Saint Augustine's, and Wake Tech, this legislation will better equip our brilliant students and researchers in North Carolina and beyond to tackle the changing cybersecurity landscape.
I thank Chairwoman Johnson and Ranking Member Lucas for their leadership in bringing forth this bill and the other Science Committee bills we are considering today. I urge my colleagues to support the bill.
Mr. LUCAS. Madam Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I yield myself the balance of my time.
Madam Speaker, our energy industry infrastructure quite literally keeps our country running. Cyberattacks that damage our grids, shut down our pipelines, interrupt our energy transmissions can have real and dangerous consequences for families and businesses across the country.
We know our energy sector is an attractive target for our foreign adversaries, so we need to do everything within our power to keep it secure and reliable.
{time} 1445
H.R. 7569 will help develop the most important weapon we have in our arsenal against cyberattacks: a highly skilled and engaged workforce.
I appreciate the work that Representatives Ross and Carey have done to get this bill to the House floor.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support it today so we can move quickly to begin developing cybersecurity resources.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BEYER. Madam Speaker, with great thanks to Ms. Ross for her leadership and to my friend, Ranking Member Lucas, for his support, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 7569, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Beyer) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 7569.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. TIFFANY. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
____________________
