Electric Supply Chain Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 3638
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Energy
- Status
- Passed House
- Latest Action
- 2025-12-15: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- Last Updated
- 2026-03-24T12:48:03Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Electric Supply Chain Act aims to monitor and strengthen the supply chain for generating and transmitting electricity in the United States. It directs the Secretary of Energy to conduct regular assessments and report to Congress on risks, vulnerabilities, and opportunities to enhance security, reliability, and domestic capabilities in this critical sector.
Key Provisions
- Periodic Assessments: The Secretary of Energy must prepare ongoing evaluations of the electricity supply chain, in consultation with relevant stakeholders (such as electric utilities, manufacturers, cybersecurity experts, and ratepayer advocates). These assessments must cover:
- Efforts to improve and expand the supply chain, including advanced transmission technologies like high-capacity conductors that boost efficiency, affordability, and resilience.
- Trends, risks, and vulnerabilities in the supply and demand of components for electricity generation and transmission, including materials needed for facilities and infrastructure.
- National and energy security issues, such as threats from foreign entities of concern (e.g., entities from adversarial nations) that could exploit disruptions to undermine U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence.
- Barriers to U.S.-based manufacturing, delivery, installation, and processing of critical materials (essential raw materials like rare earth elements used in energy tech).
- Domestic policies that discourage investment in the supply chain.
- U.S. reliance on foreign entities for components or critical materials.
- Workforce challenges, including vulnerabilities from employing non-U.S. citizens at U.S. electricity facilities.
- Opportunities to involve veterans, transitioning military members, and military spouses in the workforce, along with barriers and ways for federal coordination.
- Emerging Issues and Recommendations: Assessments must identify new challenges in the supply chain and provide recommendations to address them, while securing and expanding domestic capabilities.
- Reporting Requirements: The Secretary must submit a report on the latest assessment to Congress within one year of enactment and periodically thereafter. Reports go to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- Definitions: The bill defines key terms, including "critical material" (as per the Energy Act of 2020), "foreign entity of concern" (as per the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act), and "relevant stakeholder" (entities involved in electricity production, distribution, or supply chain activities).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This legislation builds on the Department of Energy Organization Act by adding specific, ongoing requirements for supply chain assessments and congressional reporting. It introduces a focused national security lens on electricity infrastructure, which was not previously mandated at this level of detail, particularly regarding foreign influences and workforce composition.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The Department of Energy will face increased responsibilities for data collection, stakeholder consultations, and reporting, potentially requiring additional resources or coordination with agencies like the Department of Defense for security aspects.
- Citizens: Could lead to more reliable and resilient electricity supply, reducing outage risks and supporting economic growth through better infrastructure. Indirect benefits include job opportunities for veterans and military families in energy sectors.
- International Relations: May strain ties with countries hosting foreign entities of concern by highlighting U.S. dependencies and pushing for reduced reliance, potentially influencing trade policies or alliances in clean energy and critical materials.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Government: Secretary of Energy, congressional committees on energy, and related agencies overseeing national security and workforce development.
- Energy Sector: Electric utilities, grid component manufacturers, facility constructors, and cybersecurity experts involved in generation, transmission, and distribution.
- Workforce and Communities: Workers in the electricity supply chain, including veterans, transitioning servicemembers, military spouses, and potentially non-U.S. citizens employed at U.S. facilities.
- Private Sector and Ratepayers: Manufacturers, investors, and consumer advocates who could benefit from or be impacted by recommendations on domestic production and policy changes.
- Foreign Entities: Countries or companies identified as entities of concern, facing potential U.S. restrictions on their role in the supply chain.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Establishes enforceable reporting duties under existing energy laws, with potential for future regulations based on recommendations (e.g., restrictions on foreign involvement). It references definitions from prior acts, ensuring consistency without creating new enforcement mechanisms.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's commerce and national security powers (Article I, Section 8), promoting interstate energy infrastructure without infringing on states' rights, though workforce provisions could raise questions about federal oversight of private employment.
- Political: Emphasizes energy independence and security amid geopolitical tensions (e.g., AI competition), which may fuel debates on protectionism versus global trade. It could influence bipartisan energy policy by addressing vulnerabilities in a non-partisan way, but recommendations might lead to contentious follow-up legislation on imports or labor.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Latta, Robert E. [R-OH-5]
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Dunn, Neal P. [R-FL-2], Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1]
Recent Actions
- 2025-12-15: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- 2025-12-11: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- 2025-12-11: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 267 - 159 (Roll no. 324). (Roll call 324)
- 2025-12-11: Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 267 - 159 (Roll no. 324). (Roll call 324)
- 2025-12-11: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H5789-5790)
- 2025-12-10: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on H.R. 3638, the Chair put the question on passage of the bill and by voice vote announced the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Pallone demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
- 2025-12-10: The House adopted the amendments en gros as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
- 2025-12-10: The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
- 2025-12-10: The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 3638.
- 2025-12-10: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 936, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Self amendment No. 5.
- 2025-12-10: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 936, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Min amendment No. 4.
- 2025-12-10: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 936, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the McGuire amendment No. 3.
- 2025-12-10: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 936, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Min amendment No. 2.
- 2025-12-10: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 936, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Gosar amendment No. 1.
- 2025-12-10: GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 3638.
Bill Versions
- Electric Supply Chain Act — issued 2025-12-11 — PDF (8 pages)
- Electric Supply Chain Act — issued 2025-05-29 — PDF (5 pages)
- Electric Supply Chain Act — issued 2025-12-15 — PDF (7 pages)
- Electric Supply Chain Act — issued 2025-09-19 — PDF (8 pages)