{time}  1630

  The only solution is an investment in a robust defense of the grid.
While larger utilities may have more resources to invest in
cybersecurity, the smaller utilities and nonprofit cooperatives and
municipal utilities may not have the resources to spend on
sophisticated cyber defenses.
  The rural and municipal utility cybersecurity program steps in to
fill the gap, ensuring that those smaller entities get the assistance
and the guidance they need from the Department of Energy.
  In addition to reauthorizing this important initiative, the bill
makes it easier for smaller utilities to access DOE's technical
assistance programs, a tweak that should result in more eligible
utilities gaining access to DOE's knowledge and resources.
  Madam Speaker, I thank Representative McClellan for her work as the
co-lead on this bill. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes,'' and I
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Iowa (Mrs. Miller-Meeks), who has been a leader in this issue. She
stands before us to protect rural and small-town America, and that is
exactly what her legislation does.
  Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Madam Speaker, I thank Chairman Guthrie for
yielding.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of my bill, H.R. 7266, the Rural and
Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Act, a bipartisan bill I am proud to
lead with Congresswoman McClellan, to help reauthorize and strengthen a
critical program that helps rural and municipal electric utilities
defend against growing cybersecurity threats to our Nation's energy
grid.
  Just this spring, national security experts warned that hostile
nation-states are shifting from isolated cyber incidents to sustained
campaigns against U.S. critical infrastructure, including the energy
sector. Yet, many small and rural utilities lack the capacity and
expertise to act on this information.
  RMUC is designed to close that gap. In Iowa's First District, rural
electric cooperatives serve ratepayers across 20 counties and face the
same threats as major urban systems but with fewer resources.
  By reauthorizing the Rural and Municipal Utility Advanced
Cybersecurity Grant and Technical Assistance Program at DOE and
authorizing $250 million over 5 years to deploy advanced cybersecurity
technologies and support participation in information-sharing programs,
this bill ensures rural electric cooperatives, public power, and other
small utilities have access to advanced cybersecurity tools, technical
assistance, and grant funding to protect, detect, respond to, and
recover from cyber threats.
  At a time when cyberattacks on our critical infrastructure are
escalating, small and rural utilities need the resources to defend
against nation-state actors and sophisticated threats. This bill
provides that support.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
  Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may
consume to the gentlewoman from Virginia (Ms. McClellan), and I thank
her for her leadership on behalf of rural and smaller municipal
utilities in communities across the country.
  Ms. McCLELLAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Rural
and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Act, which I am proud to co-lead
with Representative Miller-Meeks of Iowa.
  This bill represents the sort of bipartisan work that is important
for the security and stability of the American grid and the safety of
the American people.
  This bill reauthorizes the vital RMUC program, which helps rural and
small municipalities to protect themselves against ever-multiplying and
more sophisticated cybersecurity threats that could prove severely
disruptive to small and rural communities alike, just like the ones I
represent in Virginia's Fourth Congressional District.
  Far too often, these communities lack the resources and the support
necessary to defend against malign actors targeting important
infrastructure and services, and AI has made it easier for such malign
actors to do so.
  For example, rural Prince George County, Virginia, in my district,
just a few weeks ago, fell victim to a cyber incident that impacted the
county's payment services. Fortunately, the attack didn't impact other,
more consequential services, but it serves as an example of why we must
take proactive steps to ensure the security of our grid, especially in
small and rural communities that are especially vulnerable.
  Our bill fills those gaps by ensuring that these communities can face
the challenges of our increasingly digital world and, in turn, bolster
cybersecurity defenses for the entire Nation's grid.
  Madam Speaker, I am glad to work with my colleague from Iowa to
advance this important bill, and I urge my colleagues to support our
legislation to reauthorize this vital program.
  Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote on the
bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I appreciate my good friends from
Virginia and Iowa working together on this bill. I encourage my
colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 7266, and I yield back the balance
of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 7266, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

               ENERGY THREAT ANALYSIS CENTER ACT OF 2026

  Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 7305) to amend the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to
reauthorize the Department of Energy's Energy Sector Operational
Support for Cyberresilience Program to provide operational support for
energy sector cybersecurity and resilience, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 7305