Enhancing State Energy Security Planning and Emergency Preparedness Act of 2021

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

H.R. 1374 is a bipartisan bill that has long-time support in the House. We passed it by voice vote on suspension in the 115th Congress and again in the 116th Congress. The legislation reauthorizes the State Energy Program and strengthens our energy emergency planning and preparedness efforts.

This is an important bill, and we are reminded why every year when we witness how States must respond to a variety of hazards, including hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, fuel supply disruptions, and physical and cyber threats.

We have had harmful hurricanes and will continue to do so. Consequently, there is an ongoing urgency for State energy planning and action.

The electricity crises in Texas and surrounding States this past winter provides a vivid example for State responses to energy emergencies; and, of course, the Colonial Pipeline incident last month had State energy officials working with Federal authorities to make sure people had fuel when they needed it.

This legislation provides States with the flexibility they need to address local energy challenges.

It also ensures that State energy security planning efforts address fuel supply issues, assess State energy profiles, address potential hazards to each energy sector, mitigate risk to enhance reliability, and incorporate regional planning efforts.

H.R. 1374 also helps States protect fuel and electric infrastructure from physical and cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities. It makes sure we are thinking ahead, not just about an actual threat, but how our energy and electric systems might be vulnerable in a broader sense.

The bill also encourages mutual assistance, an essential part of responding and restoring in the event of an energy emergency.

Prioritizing and elevating energy security planning and emergency preparedness is an important step in the face of increased threats, vulnerabilities, and interdependencies of energy infrastructure and end-use systems.

Protecting energy security requires defense in depth, which means a strong energy sector, strong State capabilities, and ensuring sector agencies like the Department of Energy have the tools they need to respond to energy emergencies. This ensures we can help people in energy emergencies, whether caused by weather or cyberattack, and help them when they need it most.

I urge support of H.R. 1374, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I would state in conclusion that I urge strong support for H.R. 1374, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1374) to amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to provide Federal financial assistance to States to implement, review, and revise State energy security plans, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 1374.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1374, the Enhancing State Energy Security Planning and Emergency Preparedness Act of 2021.

This is a bipartisan bill introduced by my colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee. I thank the bill's sponsors, Energy Subcommittee Chairman Bobby Rush and Subcommittee Ranking Member Fred Upton for their work and leadership on this legislation.

This is an urgent and necessary bipartisan bill. In the wake of the Colonial Pipeline cyberattack and other recent cyber threats to our infrastructure, we are reminded of the consequences of physical and cyber attacks.

H.R. 1374 provides Federal guidance and resources to the States that are most vulnerable to critical energy infrastructure threats. The State Energy Program is a popular, bipartisan program designed to support State energy offices. Funding for the State Energy Program is used for several energy initiatives, including developing energy security plans to help prevent disasters from happening and to mitigate and recover from any damage that does occur.

This bill will help allocate additional resources to further develop and enhance State energy security plans. The funding provided in this bill will facilitate the implementation, review, and revision of State energy security plans while also laying out the criteria for the contents of those plans.

Mr. Speaker, recent events like the Colonial Pipeline cyberattack have highlighted the importance of investing in the physical and cyber security of our energy systems. This legislation passed our committee and the House with overwhelming support from both Republicans and Democrats in the last Congress. It also enjoys strong support from the nonpartisan National Association of State Energy Organizations.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote for this bipartisan bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I also urge bipartisan support for this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 173 and H.R. 1374, I mistaken recorded my vote as ``yes'' when I should have voted ``no.''

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.