WASHINGTON, D.C. — Stakeholders and organizations across the energy and utilities sector are calling for the urgent passage of bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and Mike Rounds (R-SD) that would renew critical cybersecurity provisions that expired on September 30, 2025. The Protecting America from Cyber Threats Act would reauthorize a bipartisan law that has been in place for ten years that enables private companies to voluntarily share cybersecurity threat indicators – such as malware signatures, software vulnerabilities, and malicious IP addresses – with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This collaboration has helped prevent data breaches, protected personal information, and strengthened the federal government’s ability to respond to cyberattacks from foreign adversaries and criminal networks.
The bipartisan bill is supported by organizations across critical infrastructure telecommunications, energy, and water sectors including American Gas Association, American Public Power Association, USTelecom, CTIA, American Petroleum Institute, Interstate Natural Gas Association of America, American Water Works Association, National Association of Water Companies, Operational Technology Cybersecurity Coalition, Utilities Technology Council, American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, Edison Electric Institute, and the Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology. To see the full list of stakeholders who support extending cyber threat information authorities, click here. Below are statements in support of the legislation:
“The American Gas Association (AGA) represents more than 200 energy companies that provide affordable and reliable natural gas service to 189 million Americans,” said Kimberly Denbow, Vice President of Security & Operations, American Gas Association. “Timely threat information sharing mechanisms are foundational to inform critical infrastructure owner/operators and government partners of potential risks that threaten the reliability of energy delivery. Until the lapse of crucial cybersecurity information sharing authorities, critical infrastructure owner/operators were offered essential liability, antitrust, and enforcement safeguards to encourage information sharing. In the absence of these protections, the risks of public disclosure, legal challenges, exposure of sensitive internal information, and reputational harm impair our ability to share threat information. This outcome empowers the adversary. AGA favors a retroactive and longstanding reauthorization of these protections to reestablish information sharing mechanisms that help protect our critical infrastructure.”
“Grid security is a team sport,” said Desmarie Waterhouse, Senior Vice President of Advocacy and Communications and General Counsel, American Public Power Association. “But winning is only possible when public power utilities and the electric utility industry can securely share critical threat information with each other and the federal government. The Protecting America from Cyber Threats Act will extend important information sharing authorities and liability protections that are foundational to the public-private partnership that bolsters our nation’s cybersecurity. The American Public Power Association applauds Senators Peters and Rounds for introducing the bill and urges swift passage.”
“The Protecting America from Cyber Threats Act reaffirms what has always made our nation’s cyber defenses strong: the trusted partnership between industry and government,” said Jonathan Spalter, CEO, USTelecom. “By reauthorizing key information sharing protections, Congress ensures that private innovation and public stewardship continue to work hand in hand to safeguard our networks, protect our citizens, and reinforce the shared resilience that defines American cybersecurity leadership. On behalf of the broadband community working every day to protect our critical communications infrastructure, I thank Senator Gary Peters and Senator Mike Rounds for their bipartisan commitment to strengthen this vital collaboration at a time when it’s needed most.”
“CTIA commends Senators Peters and Rounds for introducing the Protecting America from Cyber Threats Act, which would reauthorize critical information-sharing authorities for the next decade, helping wireless providers and other technology leaders strengthen their defenses against sophisticated cyber threats from foreign adversaries and criminal organizations,” said Kelly Cole, Senior Vice President, Government Affairs, CTIA. “Timely information sharing between the public and private sectors is essential to protecting America’s communications networks.”
“We commend Senators Gary Peters and Mike Rounds for introducing the Protecting America from Cyber Threats Act to restore critical information-sharing authorities,” said Suzanne Lemieux, Director of Security and Emergency Management, API. “These authorities have long enabled effective collaboration between industry and government to address cyber risks while protecting privacy and proprietary data. Swift reauthorization will provide the legal certainty needed to safeguard America’s critical infrastructure from evolving threats.”
“The Interstate Natural Gas Association of America supports S. 2983, the Protecting America from Cyber Threats Act, which would reinstate the lapsed cybersecurity information sharing authorities to ensure natural gas pipeline operators are afforded the necessary protections to facilitate timely sharing of cyber threat information and defensive measures among and between private entities and the government,” said Maggie O’Connell, Director of Security, Reliability & Resilience, INGAA.
“For the past decade, critical cybersecurity sharing authorities have enabled water utilities to better understand and respond to cyber threats through timely information sharing with the federal government and other partners,” said Tracy Mehan, Executive Director of Government Affairs, AWWA. “As threats to critical infrastructure continue to grow, the Protecting America from Cyber Threats Act will ensure that water utilities have access to information that can help them stay one step ahead. AWWA thanks Sens. Rounds and Peters for their leadership in proposing this legislation, and we look forward to working with Congress as it progresses.”
“The National Association of Water Companies (NAWC) deeply appreciates Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Mike Rounds (R-SD) for introducing S. 2983, the Protecting America from Cyber Threats Act,” said Robert F. Powelson, President and CEO, National Association of Water Companies. “With the current lapse of important cybersecurity information sharing authorities, S. 2983 would reauthorize these protections for 10 years, helping our nation’s water utilities strengthen their defenses against foreign cyber threats and criminal groups. Lawmakers must reauthorize these cyber information-sharing authorities to give critical infrastructure entities and businesses legal certainty and protection against frivolous lawsuits when voluntarily sharing and receiving threat data.”
“The threats facing operational technology are persistent and growing, particularly as these systems converge with IT networks,” said Tatyana Bolton, Executive Director, Operational Technology Cybersecurity Coalition. “The Operational Technology Cybersecurity Coalition (OTCC) applauds this vital effort to extend information sharing authorities. It helps mitigate risk by ensuring the appropriate flow of crucial data across critical infrastructure that operators need to respond quickly and effectively. We urge Congress to approve the Protecting America from Cyber Threats Act, as this is a critical step in safeguarding infrastructure that cannot afford to fail.”
“The Utilities Technology Council (UTC), representing electric, gas, water, and utility telecommunications providers across the U.S. and their technology partners, strongly supports the Protecting America from Cyber Threats Act (S. 2983),” said Cordell Briggs, Vice President, Utilities Technology Council (UTC). “Our members depend on trusted, secure information-sharing mechanisms to protect critical infrastructure and maintain the reliability of essential communications and energy systems. Extending these authorities through 2035 ensures ongoing collaboration between government and industry, enhancing the cybersecurity and resilience of the nation’s utility networks.”
“AFPM applauds the introduction of the Protecting America from Cyber Threats Act,” said Jeff Gunnulfsen, Assistant Vice President, Security & Risk Management, American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers. “Refineries and petrochemical facilities are vital to American energy security and dominance. Congress should work quickly to restore these important cyber threat information sharing authorities so domestic manufacturers can, once again, work with the federal government to protect our critical infrastructure and larger economy from cyber disruptions, both foreign and domestic. Thank you to Senator Rounds and Senator Peters for introducing this commonsense legislation.”
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