H.R.2594 - To establish a Water Risk and Resilience Organization to develop risk and resilience requirements for the water sector. (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R.2594 aims to establish a Water Risk and Resilience Organization (WRRO) to develop cybersecurity risk and resilience requirements for the water sector. This organization would be responsible for monitoring, assessing, and enforcing these requirements for covered water systems, defined as community water systems or treatment works serving a population of 3,300 or more persons.
The WRRO would be certified by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and would need to demonstrate expertise and independence.
The bill outlines processes for the WRRO to propose requirements, for the EPA to approve or disapprove them, and for enforcement through penalties.
Expected Effects
The bill's enactment would lead to the creation of a new regulatory body focused on cybersecurity within the water sector. Covered water systems would be required to comply with cybersecurity risk and resilience requirements developed by the WRRO and approved by the EPA.
Non-compliance could result in penalties. The establishment of WRRO will likely increase operational costs for water systems due to compliance measures.
Potential Benefits
- Enhanced cybersecurity for water systems, reducing the risk of disruptions to water supply.
- Improved resilience of water infrastructure against cyberattacks.
- A framework for consistent cybersecurity standards across covered water systems.
- Increased awareness and focus on cybersecurity within the water sector.
- Potential for innovation in cybersecurity technologies and practices for water systems.
Potential Disadvantages
- Increased costs for water systems to comply with new cybersecurity requirements, potentially leading to higher water rates for consumers.
- Potential for bureaucratic delays in the development and approval of cybersecurity requirements.
- Risk of the WRRO becoming overly burdensome or ineffective if not properly managed.
- Possible conflicts between the WRRO's requirements and existing regulations or agreements.
- Concerns about the WRRO's independence and potential influence from special interests.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill appears to align with the Constitution's broad goals of promoting the general welfare (Preamble) by ensuring the security and resilience of critical infrastructure. Congress has the power to regulate interstate commerce (Article I, Section 8), which could be interpreted to include the regulation of water systems that serve populations across state lines or utilize resources that affect interstate commerce.
The establishment of an organization to develop and enforce cybersecurity standards does not directly infringe upon individual rights or liberties protected by the Bill of Rights.
However, the enforcement mechanisms and penalty provisions should be carefully scrutinized to ensure due process and fairness.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).