Sec. 1706. Sense of Congress and strategy on catastrophic critical infrastructure failure response
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It is the sense of Congress that— the occurrence of a catastrophic critical infrastructure failure event, in which key networks facilitating the delivery of essential services such as electricity, water, or communications fail for an extended duration, would constitute a significant threat to the national security and common welfare of the United States; such a catastrophic critical infrastructure failure event could occur by various means, including but not limited to those linked to natural phenomenon (including earthquakes, hurricanes, or geomagnetic disturbances) or military conflict (including cyberattacks, electromagnetic pulse effects, or kinetic assault); and the Department of the Defense should strengthen its preparedness for catastrophic critical infrastructure failure events, including with respect to preemptive infrastructure enhancements, the facilitation of resiliency and relief efforts in the aftermath thereto, and the mitigation of impacts of such an event on activities of the Department.
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report that includes an analysis of each of the following: Particular threat scenarios involving catastrophic critical infrastructure failure events which the Secretary believes could be adequately addressed by existing Department of Defense plans and resources. Particular threat scenarios involving catastrophic critical infrastructure failure events which the Secretary believes could not currently be adequately addressed by existing Department of Defense plans and resources.
Unique challenges, with respect to activities and operations of the Department of Defense, presented by catastrophic critical infrastructure failure events involving geomagnetic disturbance or electromagnetic pulse events. Strategies to increase future preparedness with respect to any threat scenarios identified pursuant to subparagraph (B). The report under paragraph
(1)may be submitted in classified form, but if so submitted, shall be accompanied by an unclassified summary.