SENATORS MCCORMICK, HICKENLOOPER, HOEVEN, CURTIS, AND CORTEZ MASTO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO STRENGTHEN CYBERSECURITY FOR RURAL AND MUNICIPAL UTILITIES

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Dave McCormick (R-PA), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), John Hoeven (R-ND), John Curtis (R-UT), and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) introduced the Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Act, bipartisan legislation to reauthorize a critical federal grant program that helps rural electric cooperatives and municipal utilities strengthen their cybersecurity defenses against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.

The legislation reauthorizes the Rural and Municipal Utility Advanced Cybersecurity (RMUC) Grant and Technical Assistance Program at the Department of Energy, which provides rural electric cooperatives and publicly owned utilities with the resources, technical assistance, and support they need to prevent, detect, respond to, and recover from cyberattacks. The bill serves as the Senate companion to bipartisan legislation which unanimously passed the House of Representatives earlier this year.

"America's electric grid is a critical piece of our national security, and every utility-regardless of size or location-must have the resources to defend against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats," said Senator McCormick. "Rural electric cooperatives and municipal utilities serve millions of Americans, including communities across Pennsylvania, but often operate with fewer cybersecurity resources than larger utilities. This bipartisan legislation will help ensure they have the support they need to protect our energy infrastructure and keep the lights on."

"America needs clean, reliable, affordable, and secure energy," said Senator Hickenlooper. "As cybersecurity threats continue to rise, our bill enables rural cooperatives and utilities to defend against sophisticated attacks, protect consumers, and keep energy affordable."

"Malicious actors and foreign adversaries are targeting America's infrastructure, and that is why we introduced legislation to support electric cooperatives and utility providers as they work to harden critical energy infrastructure against cyberattacks. Doing so will help ensure the resilience of the electrical grid, supporting both our economic and national security while ensuring important services remain available in an era of increasing cyber threats," said Senator Hoeven.

"Our rural and municipal utilities are increasingly on the front lines of protecting the electric grid from cyber threats," said Senator Curtis. "This bipartisan bill makes a smart investment in safeguarding critical infrastructure, supporting local utilities, and keeping the lights on for communities across America."

"I was proud to help establish this grant program in the bipartisan infrastructure law to help rural utilities protect themselves from cybersecurity threats," said Senator Cortez Masto. "This program has proven incredibly successful and there is bipartisan support to reauthorize it. As new cyber threats continue to emerge, I'll keep working to ensure our rural communities have what they need to adapt."

Cyberattacks targeting America's energy infrastructure have become more frequent and more sophisticated in recent years. Rural electric cooperatives and municipal utilities often face unique resource constraints that make federal cybersecurity assistance especially valuable. The RMUC Grant Program helps eligible utilities improve cybersecurity preparedness through grants, technical assistance, and workforce development, helping strengthen the resilience of the nation's electric grid.

The Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Act would:

• Reauthorize the Rural and Municipal Utility Advanced Cybersecurity (RMUC) Grant and Technical Assistance Program through 2031.
• Continue providing grants and technical assistance to rural electric cooperatives and municipally-owned utilities to strengthen cybersecurity capabilities.
• Help eligible utilities prevent, detect, respond to, and recover from cyber threats.
• Support cybersecurity planning, workforce development, vulnerability assessments, and other activities that improve the resilience of the electric grid.
• Strengthen partnerships between the federal government and locally owned utilities to protect America's critical energy infrastructure.
• Authorize $250 million over five years to support these efforts.
  

Read the full bill text here.

The legislation is supported by utility organizations representing electric cooperatives and public power providers across Pennsylvania and the country.

"Pennsylvania's electric cooperatives thank Senator Dave McCormick for introducing the Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Act. Cyber threats don't distinguish between a large investor-owned utility and an electric cooperative serving rural communities, but the resources to defend against them are far from equal. By reauthorizing this program, Senator McCormick is making sure the cooperatives that keep the lights on across rural Pennsylvania have the tools and the federal partnership they need to protect the grid our members and our country depend on." - Steve Brame, President & CEO, Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association and Allegheny Electric Cooperative

"Pennsylvania's municipal electric utilities are on the front lines of protecting our communities' power supply - and cybersecurity threats don't distinguish between large investor-owned utilities and the small, locally-owned systems that serve our boroughs. The Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Act reauthorizes a critical program that gives public power utilities access to the technical assistance and funding they need to detect, respond to, and recover from cyber threats. PMEA supports Senator McCormick's proposal and urges Congress to advance this bipartisan legislation. Alongside our national partner, the American Public Power Association, we believe that securing our grid starts at the local level - and that no utility should face these evolving threats alone or without resources." - Jeffrey Stonehill, President, Pennsylvania Municipal Electric Association

"The American Public Power Association applauds Senator McCormick for moving to reauthorize the Rural and Municipal Utility Advanced Cybersecurity (RMUC) Grant Program. This is a proven, practical investment that helps not-for-profit public power utilities strengthen their cyber defenses in the face of increasingly sophisticated threats. With RMUC support, APPA has launched the Cyber Accelerator Program to help utilities assess their readiness and take concrete steps to improve their security posture. We urge Congress to act quickly to extend this program and ensure every community has access to the tools needed to protect our nation's energy infrastructure." - Scott Corwin, President & CEO, American Public Power Association

"Cyber threats to America's electric grid are growing more sophisticated by the day, and rural utilities depend on their partnerships with the government to help keep the grid secure. The Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Program is closing the resource gap and equipping electric cooperatives with the tools they need to protect the electrical infrastructure on which millions of Americans depend. We're grateful for the leadership of Senators McCormick, Curtis, Hickenlooper, Hoeven, and Cortez Masto in introducing this reauthorization." - Jim Matheson, CEO, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association

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