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Legislative bills

House Passes Bipartisan Legislation to Enhance Energy Cybersecurity

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The House of Representatives has passed the Energy Cybersecurity University Leadership Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at addressing the rising threat of cyberattacks on the US energy infrastructure. Introduced by Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) and Congressman Mike Carey (OH-15), the legislation seeks to bolster the energy sector's workforce and strengthen the country's ability to counter future cyberattacks. The bill provides financial assistance to graduate students and postdoctoral researchers studying cybersecurity and energy infrastructure, as well as support for research and development projects at colleges and universities.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Energy Cybersecurity University Leadership Act aims to address the shortage of skilled professionals in the cybersecurity workforce, with over 700,000 open positions nationwide.
  • The legislation directs the Secretary of Energy to provide financial assistance for scholarships, fellowships, and R&D projects at colleges and universities to support graduate students studying the convergence of cybersecurity and energy infrastructure.
  • The bill requires the Secretary of Energy to submit a report to Congress on the development and implementation of the activities described above within one year after bill enactment.
  • Representatives Ross and Carey previously introduced the legislation during the 117th Congress, which passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support.
  • The bill will empower US institutions to further study the convergence of cybersecurity and the energy sector, with Dr. Christine Johnson McPhail, President of Saint Augustine's University, stating that the partnership between the university and the International Informational System Security Certification Consortium, Inc. (ISC)2 will position students to meet the diversity, equity, and inclusion needs of a growing cybersecurity workforce.
  • Dr. James Brown, Director of the Center for Cybersecurity Education and Research at Shaw University, emphasized the need for a robust energy cybersecurity workforce to protect digital lives and ensure national security.

Statistics:

  • 700,000 open cybersecurity positions nationwide (source: Dr. James Brown, Director, Center for Cybersecurity Education and Research at Shaw University)
  • The cybersecurity threat environment is expected to increase due to shortages in the cybersecurity workforce (source: Congresswoman Deborah Ross, NC-02)
  • The energy sector's reliance on complex technologies is making it more susceptible to advanced methods of cyberattack (source: Congresswoman Deborah Ross, NC-02)
  • The bill will direct the Secretary of Energy to provide financial assistance for scholarships, fellowships, and R&D projects at colleges and universities (source: Energy Cybersecurity University Leadership Act)

Sources:

  • Congresswoman Deborah Ross, NC-02 (https://www.ross.house.gov/)
  • Congressman Mike Carey, OH-15 (https://www.carey.house.gov/)
  • Dr. Christine Johnson McPhail, President, Saint Augustine's University (https://www.saint-augustines.edu/)
  • Dr. James Brown, Director, Center for Cybersecurity Education and Research, Shaw University (https://www.shawu.edu/)
  • Energy Cybersecurity University Leadership Act (http://ross.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/ross.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/cybersecurity-bill-final.pdf)

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