On the agenda today, resolution on the peaceful transfer of power after the president ial election, live house coverage at cspan. The speaker pro tempore the ouse will be in order. The chair lays before the house a communication from the speaker. The clerk speakers rooms, washington, d. C. September 29, 2020. I hereby appoint Emanuel Cleaver to act as speaker pro tempore on this day. Signed, nancy pelosi, speaker of the house of representatives. The speaker pro tempore the prayer will be offered by our chaplain, father conroy. Haplain conroy let us pray. Lord, father of us all, we give you thanks for giving us another day. As the stresses of the pandemic and as economic and educational effects stubbornly continue, we ask you once again to send your spirit of peace and healing upon our nation. Bless those who labor to bring healing and teaching during these difficult times. Comfort all who are ill with coronavirus and those who mourn the loss of loved ones because of it. As the members return to the capitol, keep them safe. Fill them with your spirit of wisdom. And strengthen their resolve to remain faithful to their oath to promote the common welfare of our nation. During these trying times may all that is done be for your greater honor and glory. Amen. The speaker pro tempore the pledge of allegiance will be led by the pursuant to section 4a of house of representatives, resolution 967, the journal of the last days proceedings is approved. The pledge of allegiance will be led by the gentleman from pennsylvania, mr. Thompson. Mr. Thompson i pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of america and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. The speaker pro tempore the chair will entertain up to 15 requests for oneminute speeches on each side of the aisle. For what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recognition . Mr. Am speaker, speaker, i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. Revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Thank you, mr. Speaker. Today i rise to congratulate a constituent who is a dear friend of mine, elliott deshaun, on a well earned retirement from the unified school district. Mr. Takano he has served as the superintendent for 16 years and as a Public School teacher for 43 years. Hes dedicated his career to ensuring that our students receive a wellrounded, quality education. During his tenure, oversaw the expansion of a dual immergent programs to develop bilingualism and literacy in english and spanish. The creator of Innovation Centers to introduce students to career Technical Education and stem education. And the growth of the adult school to open up learning and opportunities for all. Mr. Deshaun once said, his greatest dream is for each and every student to have an equal opportunity to pursue higher education. Its safe to say that jusd schools are better positioned to deliver on that dream because of the Inspiring Leadership of mr. Deshaun. Hes also an active Community Member and volunteer and dedicated husband and father of three. I feel fortunate to have known him and im grateful for his commitment to our community. Im wishing him a very happy retirement. Thank you, i yield back, mr. Speaker. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania seek recognition . Mr. Thompson mr. Speaker, request unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. Revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection. The gentleman is recognized. Mr. Thompson thank you, mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, i rise today to urge all americans to complete the 2020 census. The census is an incredibly important tool that impacts our daily lives more than many people realize. Many important decisions impacting federal support for education, health care, transportation, and infrastructure and more will depend upon the data the census provides. The more people who participate, the more accurate the census will reflect the needs of our communities. Census takers have been working hard going doortodoor to ensure everyone is counted. If you havent been visited by a census taker, its easy to complete online. Go to my2020census. Gov to make sure you and your family are counted. Its quick, easy, secure, and very important. You can respond by phone by calling 8443302020. The last day to complete the 2020 census is tomorrow. Wednesday, september 30. I cant stress the importance of the census enough and encourage every American Household to ensure they are counted. Thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman it are there further requests for oneminute peeches . For what purpose does the gentleman from indiana seek recognition . Unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. The speaker pro tempore without objection. The gentleman is recognized for ne minute. It mr. Speaker, i rise today to sorority on i beta improving communities. Founded on how wards campus 100 years ago, they have charted hundreds of chapters worldwide and has a membership of 150,000. Mr. Carson its list of esteemed alumni who is a whos who of black excellence including trail blazers, business, law, advocacy, public service, and more. Im incredibly proud that my grandmother, julia corson, is a part of this amazing legacy of women. As the so report moves on to its next 100 years, i have no doubt it will maintain and strengthen its skeel for excellence. Congratulations to Zeta Phi Beta on your First Century of success. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields. Are there any further requests for oneminute speeches. For what purpose does pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20 , the chair will postpone further proceedings on motions to suspend the rules on which the yeas and nays are ordered. The house will resume proceeds proceedings on postponed questions at a later time. For what purpose does the gentleman from new jersey seek recognition . Mr. Pallone mr. Speaker, i move to suspend the rules and pass h. R. 362, the Energy Emergency leadership act, as amended. The speaker pro tempore the clerk will report the title of the bill. The clerk h. R. 362, a bill to amend the department of Energy Organization act with respect to functions assigned to assistant secretarieses, and for other purposes. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from new jersey, mr. Pallone, and the gentleman from oregon, mr. Walden, each will control 20 minutes. The chair recognizes the gentleman from new jersey. Mr. Pallone mr. Speaker, i ask unanimous consent that all members may have five legislative days to revise and and their remarks include extraneous material on h. R. 362. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Pallone mr. Speaker, i yield myself such time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Pallone mr. Speaker, this legislation and the two bills that will follow it are bipartisan bills that will help protect our energy grid from Cyber Attacks. The hearings before our Energy Subcommittee last year we heard from the federal Energy Regulatory commission, or ferc, from the members of ferc that our energy grid is being attacked each and every single day by state actors or their entities. Former Energy Secretary perry started to address this important issue by creating the Cyber Security and Energy SecurityEmergency Response office, or ceser. He further enhanced its stature by making its leader an assistant secretary. We agree with those decisions, and this legislation would help elevate the importance of this issue while putting Congress Bipartisan stamp of approval on these executive actions. H. R. 362 would simply amend section 203a of the department of Energy Organization act by establishing a new assistant secretary position responsible for Cyber Security and Emergency Response issues. The department of energy is the lead agency for ensuring the Cyber Security of the electric grid and newly created assistant secretary would have jurisdiction over all Energy Emergency and security functions related to energy supply, infrastructure infrastructure, and Cyber Security. This bill would also authorize the new secretary to provide d. O. E. Technical assistance and support and response capabilities with respect to Energy Security risk to state, local, or tribal governments upon request. And the bill would also require the assistant secretary and department of energy to coordinate with the department of Homeland Security and other relevant federal agencies in carrying out the bills provisions. This bill would go a long way, in my opinion, in helping to protect the nations electric infrastructure from hackers who would attempt to disrupt our energy grid and cause untold harm to our economy, our daily lives, and Overall National security. I want to commend representatives walberg and Energy SubcommitteeRanking Member upton for their leadership and for working with chairman rush and me on the Energy Emergency leadership act. Also want to thank Ranking Member upton and full committee Ranking Member walden for their Ongoing Partnership on us over the years for Cyber Security matters that. Partnership was essential in getting these bills to the floor tafmente mr. Speaker, i urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill. With that i reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves. The gentleman from orkon oregon, mr. Walden, now is recognized. Mr. Walden thank you, madam speaker. I yield myself such time as i may consume. Mr. Speaker, i, too, rise in support of h. R. 362, the Energy Emergency leadership act. Mr. Speaker, this legislation sponsored by representatives rush and walberg strengthens the departments of Energy ImportantEnergy Emergency mission. It does so by requiring the well established Energy Emergency and Cyber Security functions at d. O. E. , the organizer and leadership of the assistant secretary confirmed by the United States senate. Just over 2 1 2 years ago, then secretary, department of energy, rick perry, recognized the importance of elevating this mission within the department and he established an assistant secretaryled office, the office of Cyber Security, Energy Security, and Emergency Response. This office has proven its worth in various situations over the past two years, mr. Speaker. Including assistance relating to hurricanes and wildfires. This bill would demand the department of Energy Organization act to establish in law and therefore maintain that the Senate Confirmed assistant secretary would lead the department of energys Emergency Response and Cyber Security functions. This legislation will ensure the department has the focus and Accountable Leadership to more fully protect the public from fuel and elech terrorist its supply disruptions against all the hazards. Natural or manmade. Including emerging threats from our foreign adversaries to the nations electric grid. The bill has been drafted to ensure the department carries out its responsibilities in coordination with other agencies by improving coordination across the department, ensuring more effective interagency collaborations, and increasing accountability to the congress. A vote for h. R. 362 is a vote for ensuring highlevel leadership over Energy Emergency at the department of energy for the benefit of Public Safety and welfare and stronger Cyber Security protection notice electricity systems. Mr. Speaker, i urge support of the legislation. I reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves. The gentleman from new jersey is recognized. Million pallone mr. Speaker, id like to yield to the chairman of the committee on Homeland Security, mr. Thompson , whatever time he may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from mississippi is recognized. Mr. Thompson thank you, mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, i rise for purposes of expressing my concerns with h. R. 362, 360, and h. R. 359 in their current forms. Im concerned that without clarification these bills risk significantly disrupting how the federal government has collaborated regarding Cyber Security for nearly two decades. Congress has repeatedly supported a framework that designates the department of Homeland Security as the lead for ensuring that federal agencies Work Together and with the private sector to protect and security Critical Infrastructure. This framework was developed in the wake of 9 11 terrorist attack to guard against repeating the mistakes of a disjointed siloed approach to National Security and as well understood and well litigated within this body. It has been reinforced repeatedly by numerous laws. President ial policy directives, and executive orders that have the support of democrats and republicans alike. The policy is clear. D. H. S. Serves as the lead Agency Responsible for coordinating federal efforts to protect Critical Infrastructure in the 16 diverse sectors. To carry out this mission, d. H. S. Through the Cyber Security and Infrastructure Security Agency is tasked with coordinating with other sector specific agencies. The department of energy is the Sector Specific Agency for the Energy Sector and is well suited to do so. Role as facilitator within the Energy Sector is important. The problem common to the three measures today is that in their current forms they risk siloing cybersecurity efforts comes to protecting the as none of them acknowledges d. H. S. As the coordinating partner to d. O. E. For cybersecurity. As a reminder, this is the same been tructure that has under sustained sophisticated ttacks from foreign adversaries, some of which have been successful. While cyberattacks against the have accelerated, the sector does not exist in a vacuum. Few years, d. H. S. And the f. B. I. Have been ounding the alarm about rushing russianled attacks on Energy Infrastructure and often mirror and sectors. N other in a 2018 technical alert issued to all infrastructure sectors, and the f. B. I. Described Intrusion Campaign by the kremlin. The alert explained that russia a similar playbook to target u. S. Government entities s well as organizations in the energy, nuclear, commercial aviation, andter, commercial and manufacturing sectors. N the face of these athletes, the Cybersecurity Commission and thers have called for a redoubling of efforts to strengthen d. H. S. s role. d like to enter into a colloquy with the gentleman from jersey. Chairman pallone, i remain the cyber bill before us as well as the other bills before us today dont provide sufficient direction to the secretary of his y to coordinate departments cybersecurity activities with the department security. D is it your intent that the activities authorized by this be carried out in coordination with the homeland and that ecretary department . Mr. Pallone yes, mr. Chairman. My intent and the intent of the energy and Commerce Committee that these ills be implemented in coordination with the secretary and the department of Homeland Security. Sole reason we are amending these bills is to make clear that the department of nergy must implement these bills in coordination with other federal agencies. And i want to make clear we foremost the nd d. O. E. To coordinate with the department of Homeland Security. That clear to d. O. E. At the highest levels and acknowledged has it will coordinate with the department of Homeland Security bills. Ementing these mr. Thompson im glad to hear that. Ithout any equivocation, you fully expect d. O. E. To coordina