Energy Cybersecurity Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-2333
Sponsor: Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]
Introduced: 2019-07-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovations
Atmospheric science and weather
Computer security and identity theft
Congressional oversight
Electric power generation and transmission
Emergency planning and evacuation
Employment and training programs
Energy research
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Government studies and investigations
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
Natural disasters
Oil and gas
Public contracts and procurement
Public utilities and utility rates
Research and development

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-30
text: 

Energy Cybersecurity Act of 2019

 
This bill directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to develop advanced cybersecurity applications and technologies for the energy sector. 
 
 DOE shall:
 
 
advance the security of field devices and third-party control systems;
 
leverage electric grid architecture as a means to assess risks to the energy sector, including by implementing an all-hazards approach to communications infrastructure, control systems architecture, and power systems architecture;
 
 perform pilot demonstration projects with the energy sector to gain experience with new technologies; and
 
 develop workforce development curricula for energy sector-related cybersecurity.
 
 
 DOE may also implement within the energy sector cybertesting and cyberresilience programs that target:
 
 
DOE emergency response capabilities,
 
 cooperation with the intelligence communities for energy sector-related threat collection and analysis,
 
enhancing the tools of DOE and the Electricity Sector Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ES-ISAC) for monitoring the status of the energy sector,
 
 expanding industry participation in ES-ISAC, and 
 
 technical assistance to small electric utilities to assess cybermaturity posture.
 
 
DOE must develop an advanced energy security program that secures diverse energy networks in order to increase the functional preservation of the electric grid operations or natural gas and oil operations in the face of natural and human-made threats and hazards, including electric magnetic pulse and geomagnetic disturbances.
 
DOE shall study alternative management structures and funding mechanisms to expand industry membership and participation in ES-ISAC.

action_date: 2019-10-23
text: 

Energy Cybersecurity Act of 2019

 
This bill directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to develop advanced cybersecurity applications and technologies for the energy sector. 
 
 DOE shall
 
 
advance the security of field devices and third-party control systems;
 
leverage electric grid architecture as a means to assess risks to the energy sector, including by implementing an all-hazards approach to communications infrastructure, control systems architecture, and power systems architecture;
 
 perform pilot demonstration projects with the energy sector to gain experience with new technologies; and
 
 develop workforce development curricula for energy sector-related cybersecurity.
 
 
 DOE may also implement within the energy sector cybertesting and cyberresilience programs that target
 
 
DOE emergency response capabilities,
 
 cooperation with the intelligence communities for energy sector-related threat collection and analysis,
 
enhancing the tools of DOE and the Electricity Sector Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ES-ISAC) for monitoring the status of the energy sector,
 
 expanding industry participation in ES-ISAC, and 
 
 technical assistance to small electric utilities to assess cybermaturity posture.
 
 
DOE must develop an advanced energy security program that secures diverse energy networks in order to increase the functional preservation of the electric grid operations or natural gas and oil operations in the face of natural and human-made threats and hazards, including electric magnetic pulse and geomagnetic disturbances.
 
DOE shall study alternative management structures and funding mechanisms to expand industry membership and participation in ES-ISAC.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-10-23
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 264.
action_date: 2019-10-23
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 116-144.
action_date: 2019-10-23
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 116-144.
action_date: 2019-09-25
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2019-07-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2019-07-30
text: Introduced in Senate