U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) this month re-introduced two bipartisan bills to support rural water systems in emergency preparedness and cybersecurity.
The Rural Water System Disaster Preparedness and Assistance Act, co-led by Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), would help rural water and wastewater utilities prepare and become more resilient in the face of natural disasters and other extreme weather events.
The legislation would create an assistance program at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to help rural water and wastewater utilities identify vulnerabilities, map water infrastructure, develop disaster protocols, and train employees for emergency and disaster response. This legislation is endorsed by the National Rural Water Association (NRWA) and the Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP).
The Cybersecurity for Rural Water Systems Act, co-led by Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), would update technical assistance opportunities for cyber defense to address vulnerabilities in rural water systems.
The NRWA, representing small and rural water and wastewater systems, also applauded the reintroduction of this bill.
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“The Rural Water System Disaster Preparedness and Assistance Act of 2025 will improve the resiliency and disaster mitigation planning for rural communities while also providing essential equipment and personnel to respond when disasters occur,” said Matt Holmes, CEO of the National Rural Water Association (NRWA). “The Cybersecurity for Rural Water Systems Act of 2025 will create ‘Circuit Rider’ cybersecurity specialists who will directly deliver onsite training and technical assistance to rural utilities across our nation that lack the technical, financial, and managerial resources and in-house expertise to defend themselves from cyber threats.
“On behalf of our 31,000 members, NRWA applauds Senators Cortez Masto, Hyde-Smith, and Rounds’ efforts to protect and enhance the public health and economic vitality of rural communities and create a more resilient, prepared, and secure water sector.”
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