Reps. Weber and Dingell’s Pipeline Cybersecurity Preparedness Act Advances Out of Energy and Commerce Committee

Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Randy Weber's (TX-14) H.R. 7272 Pipeline Cybersecurity Preparedness Act advanced out of the full House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously and is now eligible for consideration on the U.S. House Floor.

Rep. Weber introduced the legislation in February 2026 alongside Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) to strengthen cybersecurity coordination across the nation's pipeline and liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure.

"Cyberattacks targeting our nation's critical infrastructure are not hypothetical threats, and the consequences would not be limited to one region," said Rep. Weber. "A disruption to a pipeline in Texas can be felt by families at the gas pump in Virginia. Americans saw that reality during the Colonial Pipeline cyberattack, when fuel shortages spread across the eastern seaboard. In the event of an attack on our energy infrastructure, we need a coordinated, whole-of-government response to restore operations quickly and protect our energy supply. The Department of Energy is best positioned to lead that effort."

Background

The need for stronger coordination and preparedness across America's energy infrastructure became clear during the Colonial Pipeline cyberattack in May 2021, one of the most significant cyber incidents targeting U.S. energy infrastructure.

• Colonial Pipeline operates a 5,500-mile pipeline system that transports gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel from the Texas Gulf Coast to the East Coast.
• Following the cyberattack, the company shut down operations across the entire pipeline system, disrupting fuel deliveries across multiple states.
• The disruption triggered widespread fuel shortages, panic buying, and price spikes, leaving many gas stations across the United States without fuel.
• The incident demonstrated how a single cyberattack on critical energy infrastructure can have cascading effects across multiple regions of the country.

The Pipeline Cybersecurity Preparedness Act seeks to strengthen coordination and preparedness across the energy sector to ensure the federal government and industry partners can respond quickly and effectively to cyber threats targeting critical energy infrastructure.

Rep. Weber's opening remarks:

"I want to thank my friend from Michigan, Representative Dingell, for co-leading H.R. 7272, the Pipeline Cybersecurity Preparedness Act, which unanimously passed through the Energy Subcommittee in February.

"The Department of Energy (DOE) currently serves as the government's energy sector lead, coordinating efforts across energy infrastructure owners and operators, states, and federal agencies.

"In this role, DOE maintains visibility across the entire energy value chain, an essential part of its mission, while providing the technical expertise necessary to coordinate security and hazards response across the sector.

"As the threat landscape evolves, cyber-attacks on U.S. systems from adversarial nations and rogue actors alike are on the rise. Given the unique risks that cyber threats pose to our energy infrastructure, we must strengthen information sharing and coordination practices in law.

"And we must do so quickly.

"That is why it is critical to advance H.R. 7272. This bill would improve how the DOE works with others in the energy sector to ensure the security and resilience of pipelines and LNG facilities that our nation depends upon for the reliable supply of fuels and electricity.

"This bill leverages the Department's vast technical capabilities to develop a program that improves the coordination and the technical support needed to ensure timely, efficient, and effective efforts to secure our energy systems and response to disruptions.

"As I said in the Subcommittee markup, let me be crystal clear-H.R. 7272 does not create or authorize a regulatory program.

"Collaboration with agencies, like the Transportation Security Administration, and utilizing their expertise will remain key, however it is important to remember that the Department of Energy retains responsibility over the whole energy and power sector. It also already leads federal coordination on this front.

"For any American watching this today, an attack on our infrastructure is not merely a hypothetical scenario. And the impacts would not be isolated.

"An attack on a pipeline in Texas can be felt in Virginia at the gas pump. We experienced this firsthand when many gas stations along the eastern seaboard quite literally ran out of fuel in the aftermath of the Colonial Pipeline cyber-attack.

"In the wake of a cyberattack, we need a direct, cohesive, whole-of-government response to cut through the chaos, and there is no better entity to lead that effort than DOE.