WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), a member of the Senate Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet, released the following statement applauding news of two National Science Foundation (NSF) grants totaling over $770,000 awarded to the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR).
“I applaud the NSF for awarding UNR these science grants to fund research into defending smart grid systems from physical damage caused by cyber-attacks,” dijo el Senador Rosen. “These grants will also go a long way toward developing engineering faculty at the University, as well as funding research into how to keep our smart grids resilient, helping keep our nation safe. I will continue working in the Senate towards smart, bipartisan solutions to help protect our nation’s electrical and cyber infrastructure.”
BACKGROUND: More specifically, UNR was awarded an NSF grant totaling $500,000 in research and development in robotic technology; $175,000, for a research project focused on enhancing cyber resiliency; and a grant totaling $96,666, for a project to help develop UNR’s engineering faculty.
Last Congress, then-Congresswoman Jacky Rosen introduced H.R. 3855, the Securing The Electric Grid to Protect Military Readiness Act of 2017. This legislation requires the Secretary of Defense, Director of National Intelligence, and Secretaries of Energy and Homeland Security to communicate with Congress regarding any significant malicious cyber-enabled activities that impose a risk to defense electric infrastructure. The core of this legislation was signed into law as part of the Fiscal Year 2018 National Defense Authorization Act.
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