SECURING COMMUNITY UPGRADES FOR A RESILIENT GRID ACT

On 2026-06-29, Representative Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ-6) delivered a floor speech titled "SECURING COMMUNITY UPGRADES FOR A RESILIENT GRID ACT" in the House.

SECURING COMMUNITY UPGRADES FOR A RESILIENT GRID ACT

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 108 (Monday, June 29, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 108 (Monday, June 29, 2026)] [House] [Pages H4296-H4297] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SECURING COMMUNITY UPGRADES FOR A RESILIENT GRID ACT Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7257) to amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to require States to include supporting the physical security, cybersecurity, and resilience of local distribution systems in State energy security plans, as amended. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 7257 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 ``Securing Community Upgrades for a Resilient Grid Act'' or the ``SECURE Grid Act''. SEC. 2. CONSIDERATION OF THE SECURITY OF LOCAL DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS IN STATE ENERGY SECURITY PLANS. Section 366 of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6326) is amended-- (1) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the following: ``(3) Local distribution system.--The term `local distribution system' means any energy infrastructure owned and operated by an electric utility at a voltage of 100 kilovolts or less.''; (2) in subsection (b)(2), by inserting ``, and suppliers of equipment for the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity to,'' after ``owners and operators of''; (3) in subsection (c)-- (A) by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows: ``(3) address potential hazards to each energy sector or system, including-- ``(A) physical threats and vulnerabilities, including-- ``(i) weather-related threats and vulnerabilities; ``(ii) physical attacks on local distribution systems and the bulk-power system; and ``(iii) supply chain risks for equipment for the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity; and ``(B) cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities, including threats to, and vulnerabilities of, local distribution systems that may impact the bulk-power system;''; and (B) by amending paragraph (5) to read as follows: ``(5) provide a risk mitigation approach to enhance reliability and end-use resilience, including methods of responding to, mitigating, and recovering from potential hazards described in paragraph (3); and''; (4) in subsection (d)(3)-- (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' at the end; (B) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (C); and (C) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following: ``(B) supplying equipment for the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity; and''; (5) in subsection (e)-- (A) by striking ``A State is not eligible'' and inserting the following: ``(1) Submission required.--A State is not eligible''; (B) in paragraph (2), by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively; (C) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively (and by moving the margins accordingly); and (D) by adding at the end the following: ``(2) State determination.--A submission under paragraph (1) is not required to be approved by the Secretary.''; (6) in subsection (f), by striking ``may'' and inserting ``shall''; (7) in subsection (h), by inserting ``, local distribution system,'' after ``electric utility''; and (8) by striking subsection (i) and inserting the following: ``(i) Sunset.--This section shall expire on September 30, 2031.''. SEC. 3. GAO REPORT. (a) In General.--Not later than September 30, 2030, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report on the efficacy of State energy security plans that includes-- (1) an evaluation of whether and how State energy security plans have improved the ability of States to identify, assess, and mitigate risks to energy infrastructure and supply chains and to plan for, respond to, and recover from events that disrupt energy supply; (2) recommendations for-- (A) improving the ability of States described in paragraph (1); and (B) actions the Secretary of Energy may take to improve coordination with States with respect to identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks to energy infrastructure and supply chains and planning for, responding to, and recovering from events that disrupt energy supply; (3) information on Federal financial assistance made available to States under part D of title III of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6321 et seq.) that was used to implement State energy security plans; (4) information on activities carried out by States using such financial assistance; (5) an analysis of the efficacy of the implementation of section 366 of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6326), as amended by this Act; and (6) information on State use of assistance provided under section 366(f) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6326(f)) (as amended by this Act), including any revisions of State energy security plans made by States resulting from assistance provided under such section 366(f). (b) Protected Information.--The report required under subsection (a) shall be submitted in a form that may be made available to the public, except that any information protected from disclosure under section 366(h) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6326(h)) shall be included in the report in an annex that shall not be publicly disclosed, consistent with such section. (c) State Energy Security Plan Defined.--In this section, the term ``State energy security plan'' has the meaning given such term in section 366(a) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6326(a)). The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Kentucky. General Leave Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 7257. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Kentucky? There was no objection. Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. [[Page H4297]] Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7257, the SECURE Grid Act, sponsored by my colleague and Energy Subcommittee chairman from Ohio's Fifth Congressional District, Mr. Latta. State energy security plans are an important tool for States to consider the vulnerabilities in their energy systems. The interconnected nature of our energy system requires constant information sharing and cohesive planning to assess, identify, and address potential threats. During this historic period of exponential demand growth caused by next-generation industries, we need to be even more vigilant against adversaries that seek to undermine U.S. competitiveness. The SECURE Grid Act is a timely bill that would enhance a State's ability to manage the security of their energy systems. H.R. 7257 will improve visibility into an evolving threat landscape while ensuring that experts in the energy field can help provide critical insights into complex engineering operations. As technology improvements have the potential to positively transform our economy, these tools can also be used and exploited by bad actors. This bill will ensure that States remain on the cutting edge of innovation and security. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time. {time} 1610 Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 7257, the SECURE Grid Act, is a bipartisan bill that renews and enhances a State's ability to consider cyber and physical security protections to their energy systems, and it promotes collaboration between partners as they develop State energy security plans. These State plans are a part of DOE's State Energy Program, which provides financial and technical assistance to help States with energy planning. It was reauthorized and updated in the bipartisan infrastructure law in 2021. As part of that reauthorization, plans must include energy emergency planning to secure the United States against physical and cyber threats. The State energy security plans are an important tool that ensures States are prepared for the worst. The planning process brings together stakeholders and enables a level of coordination across Federal and State actors. This bill helps enhance the parts of those plans that guard against physical and cyber threats by ensuring that they encompass more of our energy system, local power lines, as well as facilities critical to ensuring the supply chain of energy infrastructure-related components. Finally, the bill also bolsters a State's ability to obtain assistance from the Department of Energy, something I hope they will take advantage of as they regularly update their energy security plans. This bill also ensures that the Government Accountability Office will review how DOE and the States execute these programs, to ensure that Congress has the best information possible the next time the provision needs to be renewed. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Latta), chairman of the Energy Subcommittee. Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Kentucky, the chair of the full committee, for recognizing me today. I rise in support of H.R. 7257, the SECURE Grid Act, which I sponsored with the gentlewoman from California's Seventh Congressional District. State energy security plans, or SESPs, provide States with an opportunity to identify threats and vul

Referenced legislation: HR7257, HR7257