85R32398 KSM-D     By: Hall S.C.R. No. 55       CONCURRENT RESOLUTION          WHEREAS, Our food and water supplies, communications,   banking, hospitals, law enforcement, and countless critical   functions depend on the electric grid, and its protection is vital   to homeland security; and          WHEREAS, Numerous national publications have reported on the   great danger to the electric grid from an electromagnetic pulse, or   EMP; national experts regard a potential attack on our electric   grid system, whether natural or manmade, as a grave threat to our   American way of life; and          WHEREAS, The risk of an EMP attack has been acknowledged   since the 1960s, and the congressional EMP Commission warned in its   2004 and 2008 reports that terrorists or state actors using   relatively unsophisticated missiles armed with nuclear weapons   could stage such an attack; in 2009, the congressional Commission   on the Strategic Posture of the United States, led by former   Secretaries of Defense William Perry and James Schlesinger, urged   immediate action to protect the electric grid; and          WHEREAS, Although the federal government has thus far   neglected to take action, Texas is fortunate to have its own power   grid; the state is thus capable of hardening its own electric system   to ensure reliable electricity in a hostile environment for   residents, businesses, and state and local government, as well as   for U.S. military bases; and          WHEREAS, Even if an EMP threat never materializes, protecting   the grid would provide substantial economic benefits; as the   federal government closes military bases around the country, Texas   bases would likely survive closure, due to their enhanced energy   security; moreover, companies considering relocation or expansion   would clearly find the assurance of secure power immensely valuable   and look to the Lone Star State; and          WHEREAS, The protection of the electric grid is essential to   the security and continued prosperity of our state and nation, and   Texas is prepared to do its part to ensure that citizens can rely   completely on the power system that sustains our society; now,   therefore, be it          RESOLVED, That the 85th Legislature of the State of Texas   hereby request the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house   of representatives to create a joint interim committee to study the   security of the Texas electric grid, including critical   infrastructure and its vulnerability to electromagnetic pulse,   geomagnetic disturbance, and cybersecurity threats; and, be it   further          RESOLVED, That the committee include members of the Electric   Reliability Council of Texas and other relevant stakeholder groups;   and, be it further          RESOLVED, That the committee coordinate with the Commission   to Assess the Threat to the United States from Electromagnetic   Pulse (EMP) Attack, the United States Department of Defense, the   United States Department of Energy, and the United States   Department of Homeland Security to apply research and information   on electromagnetic, geomagnetic, physical, and cyber-attack   threats; and, be it further          RESOLVED, That the committee submit a full report, including   findings and recommendations, to the 86th Texas Legislature in   January 2019; and, be it further          RESOLVED, That the committee's proceedings and operations be   governed by such general rules and policies for interim committees   as the 85th Texas Legislature may adopt.