By: Hall, Bettencourt S.C.R. No. 55
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Our food and water supplies, communications,
banking, hospitals, law enforcement, and countless critical
functions depend on the electric grid, and its protection is vital
to homeland security; and
WHEREAS, Numerous national publications have reported on the
great danger to the electric grid from an electromagnetic pulse, or
EMP; national experts regard a potential attack on our electric
grid system, whether natural or manmade, as a grave threat to our
American way of life; and
WHEREAS, The risk of an EMP attack has been acknowledged
since the 1960s, and the congressional EMP Commission warned in its
2004 and 2008 reports that terrorists or state actors using
relatively unsophisticated missiles armed with nuclear weapons
could stage such an attack; in 2009, the congressional Commission
on the Strategic Posture of the United States, led by former
Secretaries of Defense William Perry and James Schlesinger, urged
immediate action to protect the electric grid; and
WHEREAS, Although the federal government has thus far
neglected to take action, Texas is fortunate to have its own power
grid; the state is thus capable of hardening its own electric system
to ensure reliable electricity in a hostile environment for
residents, businesses, and state and local government, as well as
for U.S. military bases; and
WHEREAS, Even if an EMP threat never materializes, protecting
the grid would provide substantial economic benefits; as the
federal government closes military bases around the country, Texas
bases would likely survive closure, due to their enhanced energy
security; moreover, companies considering relocation or expansion
would clearly find the assurance of secure power immensely valuable
and look to the Lone Star State; and
WHEREAS, The protection of the electric grid is essential to
the security and continued prosperity of our state and nation, and
Texas is prepared to do its part to ensure that citizens can rely
completely on the power system that sustains our society; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the 85th Legislature of the State of Texas
hereby request the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house
of representatives to create a joint interim committee to study the
security of the Texas electric grid, including critical
infrastructure and its vulnerability to electromagnetic pulse,
geomagnetic disturbance, and cybersecurity threats; and, be it
further
RESOLVED, That the committee include members of the Electric
Reliability Council of Texas and other relevant stakeholder groups;
and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the committee coordinate with the Commission
to Assess the Threat to the United States from Electromagnetic
Pulse (EMP) Attack, the United States Department of Defense, the
United States Department of Energy, and the United States
Department of Homeland Security to apply research and information
on electromagnetic, geomagnetic, physical, and cyber-attack
threats; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the committee submit a full report, including
findings and recommendations, to the 86th Texas Legislature in
January 2019; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the committee's proceedings and operations be
governed by such general rules and policies for interim committees
as the 85th Texas Legislature may adopt.