‘‘(1) EXPERTISE
AND
RESOURCES.—The Sec-
retary shall establish a program, in consultation with 
other appropriate Federal agencies, to develop tech-
nical expertise in the protection of systems for the 
generation, transmission, and distribution of electric 
energy against geomagnetic storms or malicious acts 
using electronic communications or electromagnetic 
pulse that would pose a substantial risk of disruption 
to the operation of those electronic devices or commu-
nications networks, including hardware, software, 
and data, that are essential to the reliability of such 
systems. Such program shall include the identifica-
tion and development of appropriate technical and 
electronic resources, including hardware, software, 
and system equipment. 
‘‘(2) SHARING EXPERTISE.—As appropriate, the 
Secretary shall offer to share technical expertise devel-
oped under the program under paragraph (1), 
through consultation and assistance, with owners, op-
erators, or users of systems for the generation, trans-
mission, or distribution of electric energy located in 
the United States and with State commissions. In of-
fering such support, the Secretary shall assign higher 
priority to systems serving facilities designated by the 
President pursuant to subsection (d)(1) and other 
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critical-infrastructure facilities, which the Secretary 
shall identify in consultation with the Commission 
and other appropriate Federal agencies. 
‘‘(3) SECURITY
CLEARANCES
AND
COMMUNICA-
TION.—The Secretary shall facilitate and, to the ex-
tent practicable, expedite the acquisition of adequate 
security clearances by key personnel of any entity 
subject to the requirements of this section to enable 
optimum communication with Federal agencies re-
garding 
grid 
security 
threats, 
grid 
security 
vulnerabilities, and defense critical electric infrastruc-
ture vulnerabilities. The Secretary, the Commission, 
and other appropriate Federal agencies shall, to the 
extent practicable and consistent with their obliga-
tions to protect classified and protected information, 
share timely actionable information regarding grid 
security threats, grid security vulnerabilities, and de-
fense critical electric infrastructure vulnerabilities 
with appropriate key personnel of owners, operators, 
and users of the bulk-power system and of defense 
critical electric infrastructure.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) JURISDICTION.—Section 201(b)(2) of the 
Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824(b)(2)) is amended 
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by inserting ‘‘215A,’’ after ‘‘215,’’ each place it ap-
pears. 
(2) PUBLIC UTILITY.—Section 201(e) of the Fed-
eral Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824(e)) is amended by in-
serting ‘‘215A,’’ after ‘‘215,’’. 
Amend the title so as to read: ‘‘A bill to amend the 
Federal Power Act to protect the bulk-power system and 
electric infrastructure critical to the defense of the 
United States against cybersecurity and other threats 
and vulnerabilities.’’. 
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