[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2169 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2169
To require the development of a comprehensive rural hospital
cybersecurity workforce development strategy, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 25 (legislative day, June 24), 2025
Mr. Hawley (for himself, Ms. Hassan, and Mr. Kelly) introduced the
following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the development of a comprehensive rural hospital
cybersecurity workforce development strategy, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Rural Hospital Cybersecurity
Enhancement Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Agency.--The term ``agency'' has the meaning given the
term in section 551 of title 5, United States Code.
(2) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term
``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
(A) the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the
House of Representatives.
(3) Geographic division.--The term ``geographic division''
means a geographic division that is among the 9 geographic
divisions determined by the Bureau of the Census.
(4) Rural hospital.--The term ``rural hospital'' means a
healthcare facility that--
(A) is located in a non-urbanized area, as
determined by the Bureau of the Census; and
(B) provides inpatient and outpatient healthcare
services, including primary care, emergency care, and
diagnostic services.
(5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Health and Human Services.
SEC. 3. RURAL HOSPITAL CYBERSECURITY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY.
(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Secretary shall develop and transmit to the
appropriate committees of Congress a comprehensive rural hospital
cybersecurity workforce development strategy to address the growing
need for skilled cybersecurity professionals in rural hospitals.
(b) Consultation.--
(1) Agencies.--In carrying out subsection (a), the
Secretary may consult with the Director of the Cybersecurity
and Infrastructure Security Agency, the Secretary of Education,
the Secretary of Labor, and any other appropriate head of an
agency.
(2) Providers.--In carrying out subsection (a), the
Secretary shall consult with not fewer than 2 representatives
of rural healthcare providers from each geographic division in
the United States.
(c) Considerations.--The rural hospital cybersecurity workforce
development strategy developed under subsection (a) shall, at a
minimum, consider the following components:
(1) Partnerships between rural hospitals, non-rural
healthcare systems, educational institutions, private sector
entities, and nonprofit organizations to develop, promote, and
expand the rural hospital cybersecurity workforce, including
through education and training programs tailored to the needs
of rural hospitals.
(2) The development of a cybersecurity curriculum and
teaching resources that focus on teaching technical skills and
abilities related to cybersecurity in rural hospitals for use
in community colleges, vocational schools, and other
educational institutions located in rural areas.
(3) Identification of--
(A) cybersecurity workforce challenges that are
specific to rural hospitals, as well as challenges that
are relative to hospitals generally; and
(B) common practices to mitigate both sets of
challenges described in subparagraph (A).
(4) Recommendations for legislation, rulemaking, or
guidance to implement the components of the rural hospital
cybersecurity workforce development strategy.
(d) Annual Briefing.--Not later than 60 days after the date on
which the first full fiscal year ends following the date on which the
Secretary transmits the rural hospital cybersecurity workforce
development strategy developed under subsection (a), and not later than
60 days after the date on which each fiscal year thereafter ends, the
Secretary shall provide a briefing to the appropriate committees of
Congress that includes, at a minimum, information relating to--
(1) updates to the rural hospital cybersecurity workforce
development strategy, as appropriate;
(2) any programs or initiatives established pursuant to the
rural hospital cybersecurity workforce development strategy, as
well as the number of individuals trained or educated through
such programs or initiatives;
(3) additional recommendations for legislation, rulemaking,
or guidance to implement the components of the rural hospital
cybersecurity workforce development strategy; and
(4) the effectiveness of the rural hospital cybersecurity
workforce development strategy in addressing the need for
skilled cybersecurity professionals in rural hospitals.
SEC. 4. INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS FOR RURAL HOSPITALS.
(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Secretary shall make available instructional materials
for rural hospitals that can be used to train staff on fundamental
cybersecurity efforts.
(b) Duties.--In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall--
(1) consult with appropriate heads of agencies, experts in
cybersecurity education, and rural healthcare experts;
(2) identify existing cybersecurity instructional materials
that can be adapted for use in rural hospitals and create new
materials as needed; and
(3) conduct an awareness campaign to promote the materials
available to rural hospitals developed under subsection (a).
SEC. 5. NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS.
No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated for the
purpose of carrying out this Act.
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