Rep. Doris Matsui Advocates for Further Protection of Electric Grid
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
CONTACT: Mara Lee
(202) 225-7163
Welcomes Sacramentan and Hearing Witness John DiStasio
Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-Sacramento) participated in the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Environment today on protecting the electric grid. Representative Matsui issued the following remarks, which included welcoming Sacramentan John DiStasio to testify before the Committee:
"M. Chairman, thank you for allowing me to welcome my friend and constituent - John DiStasio, General Manager and CEO of Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) - to today's hearing. John has served SMUD admirably for nearly thirty years. He originally joined the utility as a buyer for the District's purchasing department. Mr. DiStasio was promoted to the utility's top post last year after serving as the assistant general manager since 2000, and being awarded a number of customer service honors. I look forward to hearing his views on ways in which we should legislatively address cyber security issues in relation to protecting our electric infrastructure.
"As we are aware, the world has become critically reliant on digital communications making military targets and civilian infrastructure - particularly our electric grid - vulnerable to cyber attack. The electric grid is a significant part of our country's infrastructure. Failure to take preventative steps to ensure its protection significantly endangers our economy. It is critical that we examine the existing regulatory authorities that respond to threats aimed our power system. And we need to continually examine the expanding risks of cyber attacks, and the implications for traditional methods of deterrence.
"This Committee is well positioned to examine this issue and has already suggested one manner in which to address it. Together we can ensure that we have the tools and resources necessary to effectively defend our electric infrastructure. I look forward to hearing from the panelists on the bills before us today, and working with the Committee and stakeholders on these important matters."
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