Opening Remarks by the Honorable Bobby L. Rush, Ranking Member Subcommittee on Energy and Power at the Hearing: "Protecting the Electric Grid: H.R.____, the Grid Reliability and Infrastructure Defense Act

CONTACT: Renee Ferguson
 (773) 224-6500 ofc.; (202) 674-0891 mobile
Renee.Ferguson@mail.house.gov
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Sharon Jenkins
(202) 225-4372 ofc.; (202) 431-8191 mobile
Sharon.Jenkins@mail.house.gov

WASHINGTON ––"Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to all of our distinguished guests for being here today.

"Mr. Chairman, today we are holding a hearing on the Grid Reliability and Infrastructure Defense Act, or the GRID Act for short.

"This bipartisan piece of legislation is identical to the bill that was favorably reported out of the Energy and Commerce Committee, unanimously, last year, and then went on to pass the House by voice vote, before getting stalled in the Senate.

"Mr. Chairman, this bill represents the type of legislation that advances the security interests of all Americans, and shows what can be accomplished when we choose to work together in a bipartisan manner.

"So I appreciate you conducting this hearing today, Mr. Chairman, and I hope and expect that we will move this bill with the same type of cooperation and collaboration that we experienced in the last session as this legislation moves through the committee.

  "Mr. Chairman, the U.S. electric grid consists of interconnected transmission lines and local distribution systems that deliver electricity to our homes, schools, offices, generation facilities and related communications systems. 

"The intricate design of the grid makes all of the components highly interdependent, so that problems and outages in one location can lead to a domino effect of reliability concerns in other areas.  

"In today’s highly digitized world, the operational controls over the transmission grid and generators are increasingly managed by computer systems, such as the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition, or
SCADA systems, which are linked to the Internet or other communications systems, as well as to each other. 

"This reliance on automation and two-way communications amplifies the grid’s vulnerability to remote cyber attacks. 

"Additionally, the increased use of advanced metering systems and other smart grid capabilities leaves our electric grid even more open to attack. 

"Mr. Chairman, this bill would amend the Federal Power Act to add a new section, 215A, which would give the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) new authorities to protect the electric grid from cyber attacks, as well as from other threats, including those posed from geomagnetic storms created by solar activity.
 
"Additionally, this bill would provide FERC with the authority to issue emergency orders to protect against a grid security threat whether by malicious act, a geomagnetic storm, or a targeted physical attack, if the President notifies the Commission that such a threat exists.

"Mr. Chairman, we are all aware of the constant potential threats our nation faces, rather by countries such as China and Russia, that have already conducted cyber "probes" of U.S. grid systems, or by terrorist organizations looking for ways to weaken our capabilities.

"Cyber attacks can cause untold harm to our nation’s grid and they can be done from faraway locations, at low cost, and with little trace.

"So it is imperative that we provide those agencies that are responsible for protecting our nation’s grid with all of the tools, authority and resources they need to keep us safe.

"So, I applaud you, Mr. Chairman, for holding this very important hearing today, and I look forward to hearing from our witnesses and experts on this critical issue.

"And with that I yield back my time."

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NOTE:  You may view today's hearing in its entirety by visiting the Democratic Site of the Energy and Commerce Committee by clicking here:

Hearing on "Grid Reliability and Infrastructure Defense Act"