S. 2169 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Jun 25, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryRural hospitals get cybersecurity workforce support
This bill asks the Department of Health and Human Services to develop a plan for getting more cybersecurity professionals into rural hospitals. The strategy would explore partnerships between rural and non-rural hospitals, schools, and private organizations to build the cybersecurity workforce, and it would include developing training materials for rural schools. HHS would also create free educational materials that rural hospitals can use to train their own staff on cybersecurity.
How it affects you
If you work at or rely on a rural hospital, this could matter to you. Rural hospitals often struggle to attract and keep cybersecurity experts, which can leave patient information vulnerable. This bill aims to make it easier for rural hospitals to build stronger cybersecurity teams and train existing staff, potentially improving how well they protect your medical data and hospital systems.
Read the official summary (Reported to Senate, Jan 28, 2026)
Rural Hospital Cybersecurity Enhancement Act
This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to create a workforce development strategy to address the need for cybersecurity professionals in rural hospitals.
Among other topics, the strategy must consider (1) partnerships between rural hospitals, hospitals that are not rural hospitals, educational institutions, and private nonprofit or for-profit entities; and (2) the development of a cybersecurity curriculum for use in rural educational institutions. HHS must annually brief Congress on the strategy and any programs or initiatives established thereunder.
Additionally, HHS must disseminate free materials that rural hospitals may use to train staff about cybersecurity.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionS. 2169
A BILL
Rural Hospital Cybersecurity Enhancement Act
Sponsor: Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) · Introduced Jun 25, 2025 · Science, Technology, Communications · 2 versions of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Jan 28, 2026: “Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 309.”
Sections
The wording of this bill hasn’t changed across its 2 official versions.