Sens. Schiff and Klobuchar unveil new cybersecurity bill

Aug. 10 (UPI) — Sens. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., released a new cybersecurity bill, the Water Cyber Shield Act, on Monday in an effort to meet increased cybersecurity needs for U.S. water infrastructure.

This follows recent cyberattacks on more than 30 municipal water systems throughout Minnesota and other states last month. Officials suspect that they may originate from Iran-based hackers.

While utilities regained control over their systems and water supplies were not affected, CBS News reported, cybersecurity experts saidthe attacks exposed longstanding weaknesses.

A press release from Schiff, the top Democrat on the Fisheries,Water and Wildlife subcommittee of the Environment and Public Works Committee, said the act would strengthen federal oversight by the Environmental Protection Agency, provide important funding for local utilities and protect drinking water and wastewater systems from cyberattacks.

“Every American depends on safe, reliable drinking water, yet recent events have exposed just how vulnerable our water systems remain toc yberattacks by foreign adversaries and criminal entities,” Schiff said in a statement. “These threats are not hypothetical — they are happening right now.This legislation gives EPA the tools the tools it needs to protect thiscritical infrastructure while providing the resources that local water and wastewater systems need to strengthen their cybersecurity without pblocking the cost on to ratepayers.”

The bill would increase drinking water and clean water state revolving funds by $300 million annually, The Hill reported. It would requirethe EPA to work with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the National Institute of Standards and Technology to establish basic cybersecurity standards for drinking water systems.

“The recent cybersecurity attacks on Minnesota have highlighted the urgent need to improve the security of our water systems and critical infrastructure,” Klobuchar said. “Our legislation will direct the EPA to blockess water infrastructure cybersecurity and identify vulnerabilities, and help municipal water systems defend against cyber threats.”