Rep. Hudson Applauds Energy & Commerce Action to Strengthen Grid Security

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Congressman Richard Hudsoncommends House Energy and Commerce Committee leaders for the hearing on ways to protect America's energy infrastructure from cyber and physical threats.

"Grid security is national security," said Hudson. "We saw that firsthand in Moore County in 2022, when a deliberate attack left tens of thousands without power. Cyber and physical threats put lives and communities at risk, and we have to take them seriously."

Hudson's statement comes as the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy holds a legislative hearing on safeguarding the nation's energy infrastructure. The hearing is being led by Rep. Bob Latta,Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy, and Rep. Brett Guthrie, Chairman of the full House Energy and Commerce Committee.

The Subcommittee hearing, titled Protecting America's Energy Infrastructure in Today's Cyber and Physical Threat Landscape, is examining multiple bills aimed at strengthening cybersecurity defenses, improving physical security, and enhancing collaboration between government and private-sector energy providers.

The issue is personal for Hudson and his constituents. In December 2022, a deliberate physical attack on electrical substations in Moore County, North Carolina, left more than 45,000 residents without power for days during a winter cold spell. Homes lost heat, medical facilities lost power, schools and small businesses were forced to close, and the outage ultimately contributed to the loss of a life. The attack exposed serious vulnerabilities in grid security and emergency preparedness.

Since the Moore County attack, Hudson has led a focused effort to strengthen grid security, including:

• Immediate response:toured the Duke Energy substation that was attacked and met with utilities, law enforcement, and local officials.
• Security briefings: organized a classified FBI briefing for Members of Congress on threats to U.S. electrical infrastructure.
• Committeeleadership: brought Energy and Commerce to Moore County for a field hearing, including substation site visits and expert testimony.
• Legislative action: authored and advanced the Protecting America's Distribution Transformer Supply Chain Act, previously passed out of committee.
• Fundingdelivered: secured $1.6 billion to strengthen grid security through FY24 energy and water appropriations.

Read more about Rep. Hudson's actions to protect the grid in NC-09 here.

Read more about the hearing here.