Us Congress House Bill HB7922

Us Congress 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 4/10/24
• Refer: 4/10/24
• Refer: 4/12/24

Caption

To establish a Water Risk and Resilience Organization to develop risk and resilience requirements for the water sector.

Impact

The legislation mandates that the WRRO involve advanced technical expertise and a balanced representation of interests in its operational structure. The WRRO will be responsible for monitoring and assessing compliance among covered water systems, specifically those serving populations of 3,300 or more. This enforcement mechanism ensures that water systems maintain adequate measures to defend against cyber threats, thereby enhancing the overall resilience of public water services across the country.

Summary

House Bill 7922 aims to establish a Water Risk and Resilience Organization (WRRO) that will develop cybersecurity risk and resilience requirements specifically for the water sector. This new organization will operate under the jurisdiction of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and will focus on ensuring that water systems are robust against cybersecurity threats. This bill reflects the increasing recognition of cybersecurity risks to essential services like water supply, which has become more critical in the wake of rising cyber threats to infrastructure.

Contention

Notable points of contention surrounding HB 7922 include discussions regarding the Federal government’s role versus state autonomy in water management. Opponents may argue that increased federal oversight may conflict with local control of water systems, potentially leading to a one-size-fits-all approach that may not suitably address specific regional challenges. Additionally, determining the balance between federal regulatory frameworks and state discretion in water safety and cybersecurity measures continues to spark debate among legislators.