Energy Emergency Leadership Act
Floor Speech
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Ms. LEE of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7258, the Energy Emergency Leadership Act. I thank Chairman Guthrie and Ranking Member Castor for their leadership in moving this bill through committee, and also my colleague Representative Landsman for co-leading this bill with me.
This legislation passed out of the Subcommittee on Energy unanimously because both Republicans and Democrats on the Committee recognized how critical it is to have accountable leadership protecting our electric grid.
Today, the United States is experiencing record energy demand, driven by artificial intelligence, data centers, renewed domestic manufacturing, and widespread electrification across our economy. Meeting that demand safely requires not only robust and reliable generation but also a secure and resilient grid to deliver it.
At the same time, the threats to that grid have never been more serious. State-sponsored actors like Volt Typhoon are actively targeting American critical infrastructure. Physical attacks on grid infrastructure are also on the rise. For those of us from Florida, energy emergencies are not theoretical. They are a constant reality. After major hurricanes, a large number of Floridians lose power, and rapid Federal coordination becomes a serious matter of public safety.
H.R. 7258 addresses this directly. It ensures that the Department of Energy's emergency and cybersecurity responsibilities are led by a Senate-confirmed Assistant Secretary, a clear, accountable leader whose role is codified in statute, not left to chance.
This is a practical, bipartisan solution that will help our Federal response and our agencies keep pace with the reality of today's threats. This bill ensures that when an energy emergency strikes, a designated Federal official can cut through bureaucratic barriers, coordinate a clear response, and help keep the lights on for American families.
I appreciate the cooperation of Chairman Guthrie, Ranking Member Castor, and all of my colleagues in working together on this bill. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 7258.
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