Water ISAC Threat Protection Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 2344
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Water Resources Development
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-03-25: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-23T08:05:55Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The legislation aims to establish a program that boosts the preparedness and resilience of drinking water and wastewater systems against threats, including cyber attacks, malevolent acts (intentional harmful actions), and natural hazards (events like floods or earthquakes). It focuses on supporting the Water Information Sharing and Analysis Center (Water ISAC), a group that shares threat information among water sector organizations, to better protect public water supplies.
Key Provisions
- Definitions: Clarifies terms such as "community water system" (public water supplies serving at least 15 connections or 25 people for 60+ days a year), "natural hazard," "treatment works" (facilities for wastewater treatment), and "Water ISAC" (an existing information-sharing hub for the water sector).
- Program Establishment: Within one year of enactment, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator must create and implement a program to:
- Promote participation in Water ISAC by community water systems, treatment works, and related entities.
- Cover costs for these systems to join or maintain membership in Water ISAC.
- Increase EPA's collaboration with Water ISAC on collecting and analyzing data about water-related threats and incidents.
- Improve Water ISAC's tools, resources, and materials for monitoring the water sector and helping systems prepare for, prevent, detect, respond to, and recover from threats.
- Funding: Authorizes $10 million for each of fiscal years 2026 and 2027, available until spent, to support the program.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill builds on the Safe Drinking Water Act and Federal Water Pollution Control Act by formalizing and funding enhancements to the existing Water ISAC, which was previously referenced but not as robustly supported. It introduces new federal incentives (like cost offsets) and expanded EPA coordination for threat sharing, which were not previously mandated at this level of detail or funding.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The EPA will gain responsibilities for program development and coordination, potentially increasing its role in cybersecurity and resilience for critical infrastructure, while fostering better data-sharing with private sector partners.
- Citizens: Could lead to safer drinking water and wastewater services by reducing vulnerability to disruptions, benefiting public health and daily access to reliable water in communities nationwide.
- International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though improved U.S. water sector resilience might indirectly strengthen national security postures in global discussions on critical infrastructure protection.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- EPA: Leads program implementation and collaboration.
- Community Water Systems and Treatment Works: Public and private utilities responsible for water supply and wastewater, who gain support for threat preparedness but may need to participate in Water ISAC.
- Water ISAC: Receives funding and resources to expand operations, serving as a central hub for the water sector.
- Water Sector Entities: Broader organizations, including state and local governments, that rely on secure water infrastructure.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Reinforces federal authority under existing environmental laws to address emerging threats like cyber risks in critical infrastructure, without creating new regulatory burdens; focuses on voluntary participation and incentives.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's commerce clause powers to regulate interstate infrastructure and protect public welfare; no apparent conflicts with states' rights, as it encourages rather than mandates involvement.
- Political: Promotes bipartisan priorities in infrastructure security and public health, potentially setting a model for funding similar programs in other sectors, though funding levels may spark debates on federal spending priorities.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9]
Cosponsors (3)
Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2]
Recent Actions
- 2025-03-25: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
- 2025-03-25: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-03-25: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-03-25: Introduced in House
- 2025-03-25: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Water Intelligence, Security, and Cyber Threat Protection Act — issued 2025-03-25 — PDF (4 pages)