Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Energy Cybersecurity University Leadership Act of 2023--a reintroduced version of this bill brought by myself along with Representative Carey. The House passed this bill overwhelmingly in a bipartisan fashion during the 117th Congress. As all Members know, the United States has witnessed an alarming rise in cybersecurity threats and attacks against our energy infrastructure. My home State of North Carolina is no exception. In May of 2021, a disastrous cyberattack on the Colonial pipeline caused the company to halt all pipeline operations, leading to panic buying of gasoline and diesel fuels across my home State. Roughly two-thirds of North Carolina's gas stations ran out of fuel, including 70 percent of gas stations in Raleigh, the largest city in my district. Our constituents rely on dependable energy sources for their lives and their livelihoods, and we cannot afford continued exposure to these types of attacks. The Energy Cybersecurity University Leadership Act, a bipartisan bill I co-led with Congressman Carey--and I am pleased to do again--will help address this vulnerability. Our bill will confront growing cyber threats against our country's critical energy infrastructure by making real investments in a strong and diverse workforce that is ready to meet the challenges we face.…”