Support for Legislation Ahead of the Energy Subcommittee's Markup

Dear Chair Latta and Ranking Member Castor:

In advance of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy's markup, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce applauds the subcommittee's focus on the protection of America's energy infrastructure amid an increasingly complex physical and cyber threat environment. Our nation's energy infrastructure is critical to supporting our economy and national security. This relationship makes it increasingly important that all appropriate legislative and regulatory tools be deployed to facilitate the coordination and collaboration between government and the stakeholders who own and operate critical electricity infrastructure. A strong partnership is necessary to protect the energy sector from an evolving threat landscape.

Specifically, the Chamber supports several draft bills scheduled for advancement during the Subcommittee's markup that individually and collectively are aimed at ensuring the reliability and security of the electric grid. While the protection of our critical energy infrastructure requires constant vigilance, the bills under consideration by the Subcommittee provide important tools to enhance the capabilities of our public and private sectors to secure reliable and resilient domestic electricity supplies. In particular, we strongly support the following:

· H.R. 7305, the "Energy Threat Analysis Center Act of 2026," which would reauthorize the establishment of the Energy Threat Analysis Center at the Department of Energy (DOE) under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). This reauthorization further clarifies the public/private sector collaboration and information sharing critical to strengthening the collective defense of America's energy infrastructure.

· H.R. 7258, the "Energy Emergency Leadership Act," which would elevate energy emergency and energy security among the functions that the Secretary of Energy shall designate to an Assistant Secretary. This proposed bill is substantially similar to legislation that previously passed the House in each of the last three Congresses.

· H.R. 7266, the "Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Act," which would reauthorize a valuable grant and technical assistance program originating under the IIJA. This program supports the provision of technical and financial assistance to energy sector stakeholders who may not otherwise have the resources necessary to protect and harden their systems against cyber threats, while also increasing these entities' participation in cybersecurity threat information sharing programs.

· H.R. 7257, the "Securing Community Upgrades for a Resilient Grid (SECURE Grid) Act," which would amend State Energy Security Plans, as such are required by the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, to include the consideration of threats to local distribution systems, in addition to bulk-power systems, while also evaluating supply chain and weather-related threats and vulnerabilities to electric power systems.

We appreciate the Subcommittee's attention to enhancing the cyber and physical security of America's critical energy infrastructure. We strongly urge you to support and advance these bills without delay.

Sincerely,

Neil L. Bradley
EVP, Chief Policy Officer and
Head of Strategic Advocacy
U.S. Chamber of Commerce

cc: Members of the Committee on Energy & Commerce