[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 24 (Monday, February 6, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H694-H696]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1730
         ENERGY CYBERSECURITY UNIVERSITY LEADERSHIP ACT OF 2023

  Mr. LUCAS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 302) 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, and for other purposes, as 
amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 302

       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 2023''.

     SEC. 2. ENERGY CYBERSECURITY UNIVERSITY LEADERSHIP 
                   ACTIVITIES.

       (a) In General.--In coordination with the activities 
     authorized under title VIII of division Z of the Consolidated 
     Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116-260), the Secretary 
     of Energy shall support the development of a next-generation 
     energy-specific cybersecurity workforce by--
       (1) providing 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;
       (2) providing graduate students and postdoctoral 
     researchers with research traineeship experiences at National 
     Laboratories and utilities; and
       (3) conducting outreach to historically Black colleges and 
     universities, Tribal Colleges or Universities, and minority-
     serving institutions.
       (b) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy 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 
     implementation of the activities described in subsection (a).
       (c) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) 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).
       (2) 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)).
       (3) Minority-serving institution.--The term ``minority-
     serving institution'' means

[[Page H695]]

     an eligible institution under section 371(a) of the Higher 
     Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)).
       (4) 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).
       (5) 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 
Oklahoma (Mr. Lucas) and the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Ross) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Oklahoma.


                             General Leave

  Mr. LUCAS. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include 
extraneous material on H.R. 302, the bill now under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Oklahoma?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LUCAS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 302, the Energy 
Cybersecurity University Leadership Act of 2023 led by Representative 
Ross and Representative Carey.
  Cyberattacks from foreign adversaries on the U.S. energy sector 
present a major and constantly evolving threat to our national 
security, energy independence, and global competitiveness.
  Multiple attacks over the past few years have shown us that whether 
it is our liquefied natural gas industry, our electric grid, or even 
our national laboratories, all critical U.S. energy assets can be 
attractive targets for adversarial cyber campaigns.
  Troublingly, many of these cyberattacks are just preparations for 
future operations. As the FBI, CISA, and other security agencies have 
warned, the CCP is using smaller attacks now to provide inroads so they 
can inflict major damage to our energy infrastructure in the future.
  The threats to our energy cybersecurity have only increased recently 
due to several factors such as the war in Ukraine, increased aggression 
from the CCP, and the development of new energy technologies and grid 
modernization practices.
  To protect our energy sector, we need to take a whole-of-government 
approach, and the Department of Energy plays a central role in planning 
for and countering these attacks.
  H.R. 302 is one way to support the DOE's energy cybersecurity 
mission. This is important, bipartisan legislation that will help 
address expanding vulnerabilities in our energy sector by strengthening 
the next generation of our energy cybersecurity workforce.
  I thank my colleague, Representative Ross, for reintroducing this 
timely bill and Representative Carey for joining her as the Republican 
lead of this bipartisan effort.
  On the Science Committee, energy cybersecurity initiatives have long 
been a bipartisan priority. H.R. 302 is just the beginning of our work 
on this issue in the 118th Congress.
  I pledge to continue working with all Members to pass legislation 
that will keep the U.S. energy sector safe, reliable, and competitive 
for years to come.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. ROSS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Energy Cybersecurity 
University Leadership Act of 2023--a reintroduced version of this bill 
brought by myself along with Representative Carey. The House passed 
this bill overwhelmingly in a bipartisan fashion during the 117th 
Congress.
  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. In May of 2021, 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 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 exposure to these 
types of attacks. The Energy Cybersecurity University Leadership Act, a 
bipartisan bill I co-led with Congressman Carey--and I am pleased to do 
again--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 traineeship 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 and clean energy. From NC State to UNC-Charlotte to the 
west, to Shaw, St. 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 Ranking Member Lofgren and Chairman Lucas for their 
leadership in bringing forth this bill not just this session but the 
session before.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 302, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LUCAS. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from 
Ohio (Mr. Carey).
  Mr. CAREY. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 302, the 
Energy Cybersecurity University Leadership Act of 2023.
  Reliable energy infrastructure is critical to our national security 
and our economic well-being. With the rising number of threats and 
attacks on our energy grid, this bipartisan, commonsense legislation 
will help our country avoid large-scale power outages due 
to cyberattacks on our critical infrastructure.

  The Energy Cybersecurity University Leadership Act directs the 
Secretary of Energy to provide financial assistance to graduate 
students and postdoctoral researchers studying the convergence of 
cybersecurity and energy infrastructure.
  This financial assistance in the form of fellowships, scholarships, 
and research and development projects will prepare the next generation 
to address the cyberattacks on our energy infrastructure that our 
Nation will inevitably face.
  These graduate students and postdoctoral researchers will have the 
opportunity to study and train at our national laboratories, giving 
them the proper experience and tools to be successful in protecting our 
energy grid as they enter the workforce.
  With the war in Europe, the rising threat of China, and the record-
high energy prices over the last couple of years, it is more important 
than ever to invest in the protection of energy infrastructure, and 
this legislation is a step in the right direction.
  I thank Congresswoman Ross for her work on this important legislation 
as well as Chairman Lucas and Ranking Member Lofgren for bringing the 
bill to the floor for consideration.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this important 
bill.
  Mr. LUCAS. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I reserve 
the balance of my time.
  Ms. ROSS. Madam Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I yield myself 
the balance of my time.
  Madam Speaker, again, I thank Chairman Lucas for his leadership and 
my colleague, Congressman Carey, for his support of this. We have 
worked very closely together, again in the last Congress and early in 
this Congress, on this priority issue. This is a commonsense, 
bipartisan bill that will address critical vulnerabilities in our 
national energy infrastructure.
  We need a strong workforce that is ready to protect our existing 
energy infrastructure and build a safe, resilient energy infrastructure 
of the future.

[[Page H696]]

  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this 
legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LUCAS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Madam Speaker, there has never been a more critical issue than to 
ensure the cybersecurity of our Nation's energy sector. H.R. 302 will 
help develop the most important long-term weapon we have in our arsenal 
against cyberattacks: a highly skilled and informed American workforce.
  It is bipartisan, forward-looking legislation, which is why it passed 
the House on suspension last year.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, once again, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 302, ``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, and for Other Purposes.''
  H.R. 302 is an important contribution to and necessary investment in 
future generations of scientists and researchers, critical for our new 
age of digitization and increased security threats nationally and 
internationally.
  This effort will support the fundamental development of a robust and 
resilient cybersecurity workforce to help address the unique challenges 
of recruiting and retaining cybersecurity professionals for careers 
serving in local, state, federal or tribal governments.
  As such, this bill is vital for the state of our future economies, 
safety, and sovereignty as a nation.
  Specifically, H.R. 302 will put forth the necessary funding through 
the Secretary of Energy to strategically investment in our students 
pursuing advanced studies in the fields of cybersecurity and energy 
infrastructure.
  For years, government officials and industry executives have run 
elaborate simulations of a targeted cyberattack on the power grid or 
gas pipelines in the United States, imagining how the country would 
respond.
  However, on May 6, 2021, we were attacked through a ransomware attack 
by a criminal extortion ring that caused long lines of nervous 
motorists at gas stations--stemming not from a government response but 
from a unilateral decision by Colonial Pipeline, which controls nearly 
half the gasoline, jet fuel and diesel flowing along the East Coast, to 
turn off the spigot.
  The lessons are clear and demonstrate how far the government and 
private industry must go in preventing and dealing with cyberattacks 
and in creating rapid backup systems for when critical infrastructure 
goes down.
  Furthermore, Russian hackers have been probing Texas' energy 
infrastructure for weak points in digital systems that would allow them 
to steal sensitive information or disrupt operations, according to 
interviews with energy companies, state officials and cybersecurity 
experts.
  We must invest in our educational institutions and our student's 
ability to hone the necessary skills to not only work in the digital 
age but to become the cybersecurity leaders of the future.
  Texas is already deemed to be the hub of science and technology 
innovation and the center of cybersecurity development.
  This bill will further support and uplift the potential of Texas and 
other states to not only prepare students for cybersecurity careers but 
also to raise awareness and protect against cyberthreats across our 
nation.
  Additionally, in supporting our economy this investment recognizes 
the incredible value and revenue streams afforded through the 
cybersecurity market.
  This market is projected to reach $64.86 billion this year alone, 
according to data provider Statista. And by 2027, that number is 
expected to climb to $116.3 billion.
  In line with that projected revenue growth, the U.S. Bureau of Labor 
Statistics forecasts the number of information security analysts in the 
U.S. will rise 35 percent between 2021 and 2031. And the bureau lists 
the median pay for an information security analyst as $102,600 per 
year.
  We must continue to invest in the future of our cybersecurity 
education and careers to support and uphold our future economies, 
safety, and sovereignty as a nation.
  Simply stated, this bill is smart policy moving us in that right 
direction, and its passage will certainly help to keep our Nation 
strong and competitive.
  I urge all my colleagues to join me in voting in favor of H.R. 302.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Lucas) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 302, as amended.
  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. LUCAS. 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 question will be postponed.

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