[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 124 (Tuesday, July 26, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H7090-H7091]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
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.
[[Page H7091]]
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.
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