[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 108 (Tuesday, June 22, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H2938-H2940]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




ENHANCING STATE ENERGY SECURITY PLANNING AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS ACT 
                                OF 2021

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1374) to amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to 
provide Federal financial assistance to States to implement, review, 
and revise State energy security plans, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1374

       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 ``Enhancing State Energy 
     Security Planning and Emergency Preparedness Act of 2021''.

     SEC. 2. STATE ENERGY SECURITY PLANS.

       (a) In General.--Part D of title III of the Energy Policy 
     and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6321 et seq.) is amended by 
     adding at the end the following:

     ``SEC. 367. STATE ENERGY SECURITY PLANS.

       ``(a) In General.--Federal financial assistance made 
     available to a State under this part may be used for the 
     implementation, review, and revision of a State energy 
     security plan that assesses the State's existing 
     circumstances and proposes methods to strengthen the ability 
     of the State, in consultation with owners and operators of 
     energy infrastructure in such State, to--
       ``(1) secure the energy infrastructure of the State against 
     all physical and cybersecurity threats;
       ``(2) mitigate the risk of energy supply disruptions to the 
     State and enhance the response to, and recovery from, energy 
     disruptions; and
       ``(3) ensure the State has a reliable, secure, and 
     resilient energy infrastructure.
       ``(b) Contents of Plan.--A State energy security plan 
     described in subsection (a) shall--
       ``(1) address all fuels, including petroleum products, 
     other liquid fuels, coal, electricity, and natural gas, as 
     well as regulated and unregulated energy providers;
       ``(2) provide a State energy profile, including an 
     assessment of energy production, distribution, and end-use;
       ``(3) address potential hazards to each energy sector or 
     system, including physical threats and cybersecurity threats 
     and vulnerabilities;
       ``(4) provide a risk assessment of energy infrastructure 
     and cross-sector interdependencies;

[[Page H2939]]

       ``(5) provide a risk mitigation approach to enhance 
     reliability and end-use resilience; and
       ``(6) address multi-State, Indian Tribe, and regional 
     coordination planning and response, and to the extent 
     practicable, encourage mutual assistance in cyber and 
     physical response plans.
       ``(c) Coordination.--In implementing a State energy 
     security plan under this section, the energy office of the 
     State shall, to the extent practicable, coordinate with--
       ``(1) the public utility or service commission of the 
     State;
       ``(2) energy providers from the private sector; and
       ``(3) other entities responsible for maintaining fuel or 
     electric reliability.
       ``(d) Financial Assistance.--A State is not eligible to 
     receive Federal financial assistance under this part, for any 
     purpose, for a fiscal year unless the Governor of such State 
     submits to the Secretary, with respect to such fiscal year--
       ``(1) a State energy security plan described in subsection 
     (a) that meets the requirements of subsection (b); or
       ``(2) after an annual review of the State energy security 
     plan by the Governor--
       ``(A) any necessary revisions to such plan; or
       ``(B) a certification that no revisions to such plan are 
     necessary.
       ``(e) Technical Assistance.--Upon request of the Governor 
     of a State, the Secretary may provide information and 
     technical assistance, and other assistance, in the 
     development, implementation, or revision of a State energy 
     security plan.
       ``(f) Sunset.--This section shall expire on October 31, 
     2026.''.
       (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 365(f) of the 
     Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6325(f)) is 
     amended--
       (1) by striking ``$125,000,000'' and inserting 
     ``$90,000,000''; and
       (2) by striking ``2007 through 2012'' and inserting ``2022 
     through 2026''.
       (c) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--
       (1) Conforming amendments.--Section 363 of the Energy 
     Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6323) is amended--
       (A) by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (e); and
       (B) by striking subsection (e).
       (2) Technical amendment.--Section 366(3)(B)(i) of the 
     Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6326(3)(B)(i)) 
     is amended by striking ``approved under section 367''.
       (3) Reference.--The item relating to ``Department of 
     Energy--Energy Conservation'' in title II of the Department 
     of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1985 
     (42 U.S.C. 6323a) is amended by striking ``sections 361 
     through 366'' and inserting ``sections 361 through 367''.
       (4) Table of sections.--The table of sections for part D of 
     title III of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act is 
     amended by adding at the end the following:

``Sec. 367. State energy security plans.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Pallone) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Walberg) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.


                             general leave

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on H.R. 1374.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1374, the 
Enhancing State Energy Security Planning and Emergency Preparedness Act 
of 2021.
  This is a bipartisan bill introduced by my colleagues on the Energy 
and Commerce Committee. I thank the bill's sponsors, Energy 
Subcommittee Chairman   Bobby Rush and Subcommittee Ranking Member Fred 
Upton for their work and leadership on this legislation.
  This is an urgent and necessary bipartisan bill. In the wake of the 
Colonial Pipeline cyberattack and other recent cyber threats to our 
infrastructure, we are reminded of the consequences of physical and 
cyber attacks.
  H.R. 1374 provides Federal guidance and resources to the States that 
are most vulnerable to critical energy infrastructure threats. The 
State Energy Program is a popular, bipartisan program designed to 
support State energy offices. Funding for the State Energy Program is 
used for several energy initiatives, including developing energy 
security plans to help prevent disasters from happening and to mitigate 
and recover from any damage that does occur.
  This bill will help allocate additional resources to further develop 
and enhance State energy security plans. The funding provided in this 
bill will facilitate the implementation, review, and revision of State 
energy security plans while also laying out the criteria for the 
contents of those plans.
  Mr. Speaker, recent events like the Colonial Pipeline cyberattack 
have highlighted the importance of investing in the physical and cyber 
security of our energy systems. This legislation passed our committee 
and the House with overwhelming support from both Republicans and 
Democrats in the last Congress. It also enjoys strong support from the 
nonpartisan National Association of State Energy Organizations.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote for this bipartisan bill, 
and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  H.R. 1374 is a bipartisan bill that has long-time support in the 
House. We passed it by voice vote on suspension in the 115th Congress 
and again in the 116th Congress. The legislation reauthorizes the State 
Energy Program and strengthens our energy emergency planning and 
preparedness efforts.
  This is an important bill, and we are reminded why every year when we 
witness how States must respond to a variety of hazards, including 
hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, fuel supply disruptions, and physical 
and cyber threats.
  We have had harmful hurricanes and will continue to do so. 
Consequently, there is an ongoing urgency for State energy planning and 
action.
  The electricity crises in Texas and surrounding States this past 
winter provides a vivid example for State responses to energy 
emergencies; and, of course, the Colonial Pipeline incident last month 
had State energy officials working with Federal authorities to make 
sure people had fuel when they needed it.

                              {time}  1415

  This legislation provides States with the flexibility they need to 
address local energy challenges.
  It also ensures that State energy security planning efforts address 
fuel supply issues, assess State energy profiles, address potential 
hazards to each energy sector, mitigate risk to enhance reliability, 
and incorporate regional planning efforts.
  H.R. 1374 also helps States protect fuel and electric infrastructure 
from physical and cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities. It makes 
sure we are thinking ahead, not just about an actual threat, but how 
our energy and electric systems might be vulnerable in a broader sense.
  The bill also encourages mutual assistance, an essential part of 
responding and restoring in the event of an energy emergency.
  Prioritizing and elevating energy security planning and emergency 
preparedness is an important step in the face of increased threats, 
vulnerabilities, and interdependencies of energy infrastructure and 
end-use systems.
  Protecting energy security requires defense in depth, which means a 
strong energy sector, strong State capabilities, and ensuring sector 
agencies like the Department of Energy have the tools they need to 
respond to energy emergencies. This ensures we can help people in 
energy emergencies, whether caused by weather or cyberattack, and help 
them when they need it most.
  I urge support of H.R. 1374, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I would state in conclusion that I urge 
strong support for H.R. 1374, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I also urge bipartisan support for this 
bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1374.
  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. ROSENDALE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.

[[Page H2940]]

  Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion 
are postponed.

                          ____________________