Energy Emergency Leadership Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7258) to amend the Department of Energy Organization Act with respect to functions assigned to Assistant Secretaries, and for other purposes.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 7258

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Energy Emergency Leadership Act''. SEC. 2. FUNCTIONS ASSIGNED TO ASSISTANT SECRETARIES.

(a) In General.--Subsection (a) of section 203 of the Department of Energy Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7133(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

``(12) Energy emergency and energy security functions, including--

``(A) responsibilities with respect to energy infrastructure, security and resilience, emerging threats, cybersecurity, supply, and emergency planning and preparedness, coordination, response, and restoration, as appropriate; and

``(B) upon request of a State, local, or Tribal government or energy sector entity, and in coordination with other Federal agencies as appropriate, provision of technical assistance and support to protect against, detect, and respond to energy security threats, risks, and incidents.''.

(b) Coordination.--The Secretary of Energy shall ensure that the functions of the Secretary described in section 203(a)(12) of the Department of Energy Organization Act (as added by this Act) are performed in coordination with relevant Federal agencies.

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Mr. GUTHRIE. 7258.

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Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7258, the Energy Emergency Leadership Act, sponsored by my colleague Ms. Lee of Florida.

The bill was considered and reported favorably by the committee on a unanimous, bipartisan vote because it will strengthen the Department of Energy's important energy emergency mission.

The bill requires that the well-established energy emergency and cybersecurity functions at DOE are organized under the leadership of an Assistant Secretary, which is important to maintaining a high level of leadership in DOE's emergency response and cybersecurity functions.

The Energy Emergency Leadership Act will ensure the Department has the focused and accountable leadership to more fully protect the public from all the hazards to the energy system, natural or man-made, including emerging threats from our foreign adversaries to the Nation's electric grid.

A vote for H.R. 7258 is a vote for ensuring strong leadership during energy emergencies for the benefit of public safety and welfare and for stronger cybersecurity protections in our electricity systems.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Lee), my good friend and the author of this legislation.

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Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I thank the gentlewoman from Florida for working together. I really appreciate working together with both my friends from Florida, both from the Tampa area.

It is important to have the right leadership in the right place to make sure we protect ourselves at this vulnerable time.

I encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 7258, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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