[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 39 (Tuesday, March 5, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H803-H805]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    ENERGY EMERGENCY LEADERSHIP ACT

  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3277) to amend the Department of Energy Organization Act 
with respect to functions assigned to Assistant Secretaries, and for 
other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3277

       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 Emergency Leadership 
     Act''.

     SEC. 2. FUNCTIONS ASSIGNED TO ASSISTANT SECRETARIES.

       (a) In General.--Subsection (a) of section 203 of the 
     Department of Energy Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7133(a)) is 
     amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(12) Energy emergency and energy security functions, 
     including--
       ``(A) responsibilities with respect to infrastructure, 
     cybersecurity, emerging threats, supply, and emergency 
     planning, coordination, response, and restoration; and
       ``(B) upon request of a State, local, or tribal government 
     or energy sector entity, and in consultation with other 
     Federal agencies as appropriate, provision of technical 
     assistance, support, and response capabilities with respect 
     to energy security threats, risks, and incidents.''.
       (b) Coordination.--The Secretary of Energy shall ensure 
     that the functions of the Secretary described in section 
     203(a)(12) of the Department of Energy Organization Act (as 
     added by this Act) are performed in coordination with 
     relevant Federal agencies.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
South Carolina (Mr. Duncan) and the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. 
Schrier) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from South Carolina.


                             General Leave

  Mr. DUNCAN. 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 in the Record on this bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from South Carolina?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3277, the Energy Emergency 
Leadership Act. Sponsored by Representatives Walberg and Blunt 
Rochester, H.R. 3277 has strong bipartisan support, passing out of the 
Energy and Commerce Committee 48-0 last May.
  The bill is necessary to strengthen the Department of Energy's 
important energy emergency mission. It does so by requiring that the 
well-established energy emergency and cybersecurity functions at the 
DOE are organized under the leadership of an Assistant Secretary 
confirmed by the Senate.
  This bill amends the Department of Energy Organization Act to 
establish in law this Assistant Secretary level of leadership at the 
Department of Energy's emergency response and cybersecurity functions.
  This bill will ensure the Department has focused and accountable 
leadership to protect the public more fully from fuel and electricity 
supply disruptions against natural or manmade hazards, including 
emerging threats from our foreign adversaries to the Nation's electric 
grid.
  Under this legislation, the DOE will carry out its responsibilities 
in coordination with other agencies with improved coordination across 
the Department, better interagency collaborations, and greater 
accountability to the United States Congress.
  Establishing accountable leadership of this DOE mission 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. This means a 
strong energy sector, strong State capabilities, and ensuring sector 
agencies like the Department of Energy have the tools that they need to 
respond to energy emergencies.
  A vote for H.R. 3277 is a vote for ensuring accountable DOE 
leadership

[[Page H804]]

over energy emergencies for the benefit of public safety and welfare 
and for stronger cybersecurity protections within the energy systems.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. SCHRIER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3277, the Energy 
Emergency Leadership Act. This is a bipartisan bill that passed the 
House in the 117th Congress and is necessary to protect our energy grid 
from cyberattacks. Our energy infrastructure and grid have seen a 
number of attacks over the past few years from state actors and other 
malicious actors. We must defend our grid from cyberattacks.
  H.R. 3277 establishes a new Assistant Secretary position at the 
Department of Energy responsible for cybersecurity and emergency 
response issues. H.R. 3277 would give the new Assistant Secretary 
jurisdiction over all energy emergency and security functions related 
to energy supply, infrastructure, and cybersecurity. This includes 
responsibilities related to coordination, response, and restoration.
  Given today's national security concerns, it is crucial that all of 
these responsibilities rest with an Assistant Secretary at the 
Department of Energy, the agency with sector expertise.
  The bill would also vest the Assistant Secretary with the authority 
to provide DOE technical assistance and support to State, local, or 
Tribal governments upon request, and it would require the Assistant 
Secretary and DOE to coordinate with other relevant Federal agencies in 
carrying out the bill's provisions.
  DOE already does great work to protect our energy infrastructure. The 
Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response has 
been at the forefront of protecting our grid and coordinating responses 
to attacks. By codifying an Assistant Secretary for cybersecurity and 
emergency response issues, this legislation would go a long way in 
helping to protect the Nation's electric infrastructure from hackers 
and other bad actors that attempt to disrupt our energy grid and harm 
our economy, our daily lives, and our overall national security.
  I commend Representatives Blunt Rochester and Walberg for their 
bipartisan efforts to protect our energy infrastructure. I hope we can 
continue to work together on cybersecurity matters moving forward to 
defend our country from the ongoing threat of cyberattacks.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this bipartisan 
bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Walberg), one of the authors of the bill.

                              {time}  1715

  Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from South Carolina for 
yielding time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my legislation, H.R. 3277, 
the Energy Emergency Leadership Act. Working with my good friend, 
Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester, this bipartisan legislation was 
introduced to help address an ever-growing need.
  We live in a world where energy infrastructure is constantly facing 
threats. As we become more reliant on technology in all aspects of our 
grid, it is important to understand the magnitude of the risks 
associated with this dependence.
  We face the persistent threat of cyberattacks, like the Colonial 
Pipeline, which paralyzed multiple regions of our country for an entire 
week in 2021. Our energy infrastructure is the most targeted critical 
infrastructure sector, facing 39 percent of cyber incidents.
  The sophistication and sheer numbers of cyberattacks are growing by 
the year, but these aren't the only threats. In addition, our energy 
systems have become increasingly more complex. They have also become 
more vulnerable to all manner of hazards, including natural disasters, 
physical attacks, and global shortages. According to The Wall Street 
Journal, physical attacks on energy infrastructure catapulted by 71 
percent from 2021 to 2022.
  We need to make sure the Department of Energy is properly equipped to 
combat these threats and respond in case of an emergency.
  The FAST Act provided the DOE with several new energy security 
authorities to respond to physical attacks and cyberattacks on our 
critical energy infrastructure. The Trump administration built on this 
authority by creating the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and 
Emergency Response, or CESER.
  This legislation would amend the Department of Energy Organization 
Act to require the Secretary of Energy to assign energy emergency and 
energy security functions to an Assistant Secretary of CESER, including 
responsibilities concerning infrastructure and cybersecurity.
  Strengthening our cyber defense and emergency response capabilities 
in the energy sector has never been more important. We must do 
everything we can to protect energy reliability, and this bipartisan 
legislation is a simple yet effective step that needs to be taken.
  For too long, the Department of Energy's emergency functions have 
long been oriented around oil supply shocks, but defense and response 
to physical attacks and cyberattacks have not been defined as a clear 
function. This can lead to downstream effects causing confusion and 
complications to the Department seeking to address the threats.
  This legislation would help elevate energy emergency and 
cybersecurity responsibilities as a core function for the Department 
and better protect our grid and critical energy infrastructure. It 
would strengthen coordination across the Department, ensure more 
effective interagency communication, and increase accountability to 
Congress and the American people.
  We live in a modern world with modern threats requiring modern 
solutions. H.R. 3277 is a necessary response to these threats.
  Last Congress, the Energy Emergency Leadership Act passed the House 
with overwhelming support from Members on both sides of the aisle. 
Since then, threats have only increased; the stakes have risen; and 
there is consensus to get this done.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense 
legislation.
  Ms. SCHRIER. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio 
(Mr. Latta).
  Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I 
rise today in strong support of H.R. 3277, the Energy Emergency 
Leadership Act, which is an important step in ensuring America's 
electrical grid is secure.
  The Energy Emergency Leadership Act requires the Department of Energy 
to establish a new Assistant Secretary position that has dedicated 
focus on preparing and responding to physical attacks and cyberattacks 
on the grid.
  As co-chair of the bipartisan Grid Innovation Caucus, I am encouraged 
that we have this opportunity to highlight the great bipartisan work 
emerging from the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
  Dedicated leadership and coordination are necessary for ensuring 
security. Our electrical grid is fundamental to our everyday lives, and 
protecting the grid from both cyber and physical attacks is a cause 
that deserves our full attention.
  It is too easy to take for granted the reliability of our power grid 
and the stability and safety it provides for us every single day. 
Without this infrastructure, we would not be able to stay connected 
with loved ones, heat and light our homes, or engage in everyday 
commerce that keeps our economy moving and workers employed.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Michigan and the gentlewoman 
from Delaware for leading this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the Energy Emergency 
Leadership Act to strengthen the resilience of our power grids, fortify 
the United States' national security, and protect American families.
  Ms. SCHRIER. Mr. Speaker, energy security should be handled by the 
Department of Energy. This is important for our national security.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this 
bipartisan bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

[[Page H805]]

  

  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, it is an important time to address cybersecurity in this 
Nation. The energy infrastructure that we have is vulnerable. The 
gentleman from Michigan mentioned the Colonial Pipeline incident, which 
affected my State of South Carolina.
  Republicans generally aren't about growing government, creating new 
positions, and whatever, but it is important to raise this to the level 
of Assistant Secretary to put the emphasis where the Nation needs it to 
be at the Department of Energy.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Walberg) and 
the gentlewoman from Delaware (Ms. Blunt Rochester) for authoring this 
bill. I thank the minority on the Energy and Commerce Committee, as 
well as the majority members, for supporting this through the full 
committee, and I would love for all of my colleagues to support this 
legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Duncan) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3277.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________