Cybersecurity for Rural Water Systems Act

SUMMARY

Cybersecurity for Rural Water Systems Act

This bill amends the Department of Agriculture (USDA) Circuit Rider Program to include cybersecurity technical assistance for rural water systems serving fewer than 10,000 people. Under the program, USDA provides technical assistance to rural water systems that are experiencing day-to-day operational, financial, or managerial issues.

Specifically, the program's cybersecurity technical assistance must (1) assess system efficacy in protecting against cyber threats; and (2) implement cybersecurity plans, procedures, and technologies to protect against cyber threats.

The bill also reauthorizes the Circuit Rider Program through FY2030.

FULL TEXT

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 2109 Introduced in House (IH)]

119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2109

To include cybersecurity technical assistance in the national rural water and wastewater circuit rider program of Department of Agriculture.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 14, 2025

Mr. Davis of North Carolina (for himself and Mr. Nunn of Iowa) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture

A BILL

To include cybersecurity technical assistance in the national rural water and wastewater circuit rider program of Department of Agriculture.

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 ``Cybersecurity for Rural Water Systems Act''.

SEC. 2. INCLUSION OF CYBERSECURITY TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN THE NATIONAL RURAL WATER AND WASTEWATER CIRCUIT RIDER PROGRAM.

(a) In General.--Section 306(a)(22)(A) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)(22)(A)) is amended--

(1) by striking ``and'' at the end of clause (i); and

(2) by redesignating clause (ii) as clause (iii) and inserting after clause (i) the following:

``(ii) shall include cybersecurity technical assistance for rural water systems serving fewer than 10,000 persons, to-- ``(I) assess system efficacy in protecting against cyber threats; and ``(II) implement cybersecurity plans, procedures, and technologies to protect against cyber threats; and''.

(b) Extension of Program.--Section 306(a)(22)(B) of such Act (7

U.S.C. 1926(a)(22)(B)) is amended by striking ``$25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023'' and inserting ``$32,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030, of which $7,500,000 for each of the fiscal years shall be used to provide cybersecurity technical assistance in accordance with subparagraph (A)(ii)''.

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